The Big Band Era
By: gpcox
https://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com
“You ain’t got a thing, if you ain’t got that Swing!”
Swing was a verb that musicians used long before press agents turned it into a noun or adjective to describe both an attitude toward music and a special way of performing it. “Swing” suggests rhythm and a regular propulsive oscillation, a form of jazz that is still influencing music today. There are many instruments reinforcing the others, then other times, playing against each other and a solo instrument playing against a background. The jazz form traveled north out of New Orleans in the 1890’s and slammed into the Chicago scene in the 1920’s.
Vincent Lopez
The beginnings can be traced back to Fletcher Henderson in New York and Bernie Moten in Kansas City. Fletcher and his brother Horace created the pattern for swing arrangements and was the first to train a big band…
Pacific Paratrooper 
Band music and dances were the main source of morale boosters during the war time era, still enjoy all the old music from that era.
Tried to read the original but for some reason it has a fault on its post page.
Cheers.
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Yes, I noticed that. Perhaps I sent the article to Judy in too large a format.
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As soon as I hear that song I want to start dancing. I love to see dancers swinging, for want of a better word!
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W-e-l-l…. that IS the word theyy used, so who are we to question it, eh? haha
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LOL!
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Thanks for bringing the post back, GP. Nice presentation of great music history.
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Judy and I were talking about – now were finally doing it – team work! (and these were fun to do!)
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Bet you knew I’d be rapt in this one GP, Thanks for sharing such a great post.
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Did it get your feet tappin’? Ya gotta keep that swing, Beari!!
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how true GP a great post brought back a flood of good memories, isn’t the internet great? Theres always someone pops up that gives a great sense of joy, sometimes for just a moment sometimes forever
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So true!
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Reminds me of my mother.
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And I’m sure you have some wonderful memories of her too!!
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I do. Thank you. She’s probably listening to the Big Bands still.
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GP – Thank you for re-blogging this post. It has been five years since they were first published. Definitely time to bring them back.
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I had a good time doing these posts – I learned a lot from the research too! I just ran out of time to continue, but I do miss it.
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This post is right down my (Tin Pan) Alley. I’ve been collecting 78 rpm records of this era (and earlier) for over 50 years and have amassed thousands. The only problem is finding time to re-play them (not to mention time to read dozens of related books). Hopefully I’ll live to age 100+ with good eyesight!
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And I’m pulling for you to do just that! I wish i still had my father’s collection of records, he enjoyed the 75’s as well.
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I love this music. Even though it’s before my time, I hear it and find it hard to sit still! Love the old movies that feature it! 😁
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This music always made me wish I was a better dancer!
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I hear ya! 😀
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Happy Easter, I’ve commented over on your guest post. 🙂
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Yes, I saw it Val and thank you.
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Love big band music – before my time, yet it always feels nostalgic somehow.
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I think it makes us remember our parents.
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It does indeed!
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Happy Easter, GP. 🐣⛪️🐥🐤 Christine
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And ALL my very best wishes to you as well, Christine!!
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It was before my time but I love listening to the Big Bands music and I enjoy those old movies at TCM where big bands were playing. Great post GP. Happy Easter.
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All my very best wishes for you, Rose!!
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Thank you GP!
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Happy Easter, GP!
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Right back atcha!! Have a sweet one!
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I spent many years learning East and Westcoast Swing. Wonderful memories! Did I ever tell you I danced ballroom professionally? Hmm…
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No you didn’t – yet another talent from you – I should have known with all the creativity I read every day on your posts!!
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My Old Man was huge on Big Band. Dorsey and Goodman … but us kids never got it. Then it seem to vanish almost as fast as it came. It was era that I never caught.
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Ah, you don’t know what you’re missing then. If you ever did the Lindy at a school dance, you can say you have that swing – very similar.
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I absolutely loved this post! My Pop Yoder was a swing artist during this period and played with some of the artists mentioned: https://www.google.com/amp/s/peopleofpancho.com/2014/07/06/pop-yoder-was-a-swinger/amp/
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Everyone seems to have fond memories of this music, maybe we can bring it back?! Going right now to check out your Pop.
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During WWII, I matured listening and dancing to the big bands. In particular, my favorites were Tommy Dorsey’s “Getting Sentimental Over You,” and Artie Shaw’s “Star Dust.”
Grand Poohbah.
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Grand Poohbah – you and I are pretty much cut from the same cloth on that note!! Thanks for stopping by!!
GP Cox
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I have been a fan of the big band sound since my teenage years. I used to have the entire collection of Glen Miller on LP’s. Happy Easter, GP!
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I sure wish I had my father’s old collection too!! I love this music —- those musicians were true artists!
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Super! I like that Big Band sound! It is so much better than the trash that passes for music today! Thank you for posting this!
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No problem! I understand big bands and Be Bop are making a comeback too – wouldn’t THAT be great?!!
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GP, I thought you’d be interested in this post from Every Leaf Tells A Story: https://everyleafhasastory.com/2018/04/01/dads-role-in-operation-iceberg-part-1-april-1-3-1945/
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You were right, Amy, thank you! I’ve taken down the address and will more and likely reblog it soon – when and if I ever get through March!! Jeez that generation was busy!!!!
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I also left a comment on her blog informing her of your blog. 🙂
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Thank you.
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I grew up dancing to live big band music at the Masonic Lodge every Friday night. After dinner (steak for the big people, burgers for the kids) my dad would lead me to the dance floor and teach me the finer points of swing to the music of the greats.
The great thing about swing dancing is that it works just as well to rock and roll music, and now that I’m living in the home of Western Swing — well, there’s just nothing better than that music. It’s even good music for this morning — Happy Easter!
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Same to you, Linda. I had Dad’s records on Saturday or weekends if my parents had a party. But then there were special times of going into NYC and dancing to the music of my grandma’s ex-boyfiend, Lopez or out on the island to Guy Lombardo’s band. (He had passed away, but his son-in-law was a band leader and took it over.)
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I really enjoyed this! “In the Mood” still gets me swinging. Thanks, GP.
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I’m so glad you did, Jennie. It makes for a good break from constant war talk.
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😀
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Merry Easter , buona Pasqua !!!!
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Thank you, to you and yours as well!
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I enjoyed the blog. Great music back then, and it doesn’t grow old. 🙂
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According to the PBS stations, it just might be making a comeback!!
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I’m swooning! That would be swell! 🙂
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Awesome essay, GP! I love swing and the Big Band sound. I don’t recall my parents listening to it, but I love those old 30s and 40s movies so that must be where I first came to love it. Even today, when I listen to music on the TV, it’s the Big Band channel I select. Harry James and Stan Kenton are favorites, and I love Helen O’Connell’s voice. I think it’s great you have such a connection with that period. I’d love to hear more about it.
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I thank you very much reading it, Will. These posts I did for Judy were a fun project.
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Great stuff! Who can fail to get swept up in that big band sound? Chick Webb, with his ‘Stomping At The Savoy’, Glen Miller’s mournful ‘Moonlight Serenade’, or Lionel Hampton’s invigorating ‘Flying Home’. Wonderful times for popular music.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks, Pete. I did this post for Judy back when we first started our blogs – jeez, that’s a while a go, isn’t it?! haha
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Seems like another lifetime, GP. 🙂
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I know what you mean!
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