In The Mood
-
Alton Glenn Miller (March 1,
1904–presumably
December 15,
1944), was an
American
jazz musician
and
band leader
in the
swing era. He
was one of the best-selling recording artists from
1939 to 1942,
leading one of the best known "Big
Bands". Miller's signature
recordings include, "In the Mood", "Tuxedo Junction", "Chattanooga
Choo Choo", "Moonlight Serenade", "Little Brown Jug", and
"Pennsylvania 6-5000".
While traveling to
entertain U.S. troops in
France during
World War II,
Miller's plane
disappeared
in bad weather. His body was never found.
-
This is one of the most
recognizable and popular Big Band songs. When Billboard published its very first sales chart in July 1940, Miller
was the top band leader in the world and had 3 of the top 10 places.
-
This was a US #1 song for 13 weeks and was Glenn Miller's biggest
ever hit.
-
Miller wrote this based on a song he wrote 9 years earlier called
"Tar Paper Stomp."
-
Beatles producer George Martin had the orchestra play a little bit
of this song at the end of "All
You Need Is Love."
Harlem
Nocturne
-
Earle Harry Hagen (July 9, 1919 — May 26, 2008) was an American
composer who created music for movies and television. He is
remembered for co-writing and whistling "The Fishin' Hole", the
melody of the main theme to The Andy Griffith Show, the instrumental
classic "Harlem Nocturne" used as the theme to television's Mickey
Spillane's Mike Hammer, Dick Van Dyke, Gomer Pyle, Eight is Enough,
The Mod Squad, and I Spy.
-
Hagen wrote "Harlem
Nocturne" for a radio series as a conscious imitation of the Duke
Ellington sound. Randy Brooks, a white big band leader, picked it up
as his theme song in 1941. About ten years later, saxophonist Herbie
Fields, released it as a single, soon after, virtually every sax
player in the R & B business had his own version of it out.
-
In 1959, a New Jersey
band, the Viscounts, had a minor hit with it, introducing an eerie
guitar effect that's been retained in most of the subsequent covers.
Sing
Sing Sing
-
"Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)" is a 1936 song, written by Louis
Prima, that has become one of the definitive songs of the big band
and swing era. Although written by Prima, it is often most
associated with Benny Goodman. The song has since been covered by
numerous artists. It was used in the Broadway Musical Swing!
-
Unlike most big band arrangements of that era, which were limited in
length to about 3 minutes so that they could be recorded on one side
of a standard 10-inch 78-rpm record, the Goodman band's version of
"Sing, Sing, Sing" was an extended work. The 1937 recording lasted 8
min 43 seconds, and took up both sides of a 12-inch 78.
-
Gene Krupa did the original recorded drum solo that has become one
of the most recognizable drum solos in jazz history.
-
In
the decades since, "Sing, Sing, Sing" has gone on to be one of the
most visible symbols of the swing era. Easily accessible to rock
audiences due to its big beat and showy drum breaks structure, it is
heard everywhere from television commercials to high school marching
bands.
-
The
music is found in over 18 movie productions from 1936 - 2008
|
