The leisurely, moneyed life of the leisure classes of the thirties has vanished for ever. The elegance is still there of course, and the shops and the nightlife; but the rich and famous spend more time globe-trotting. The delights of nightclubs, restaurants and hotels are of a different order now. The time has long since past when various establishments vied for custom through the excellence of their music, their own bands for dancing and listening to, the glittering cabaret stars, singers, speciality acts and variety performers, all swept away into a past now fondly recalled by those lucky enough to have seen them perform, but who can now enjoy many of their performances captured on recordings made during those glamorous far off times.
Massachusetts born Carroll Gibbons had one of the most delightful, distinctive rhythmic piano styles of all bandleaders. He came to Britain from America in 1924, working as a relief pianist with the Boston Orchestra at the famous Savoy Hotel - an establishment built on the profits of the Savoy Operas at the Savoy Theatre. He was invited in 1927 to take over the running of the Savoy Orpheans - the Hotels principal band. He then moved to become record company HMV Director of Light Music (for recording) and was responsible for the studio group the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra which accompanied many of the companys star artistes. Her was lured to Hollywood, but returned to London and to the Savoy in 1931. The Savoy Orpheans were re-formed and Carroll was their leader for the rest of his professional life. Within the orchestra there was a small group called Carroll Gibbons and his Boy Friends, who made a number of memorable broadcasts on commercial radio for the Hartleys Jam Programme. These were announced by Jimmy Dyrenforth, who added words to a number of tunes penned by the soft spoken American from Clinton, Massachusetts. We offer here two peerless examples of Gibbonss subtle rhythmic art: first, theres So Rare, the classic 1937 recording of what would become Jimmy Dorseys sign off signature tune, and a definitive performance of an instant George and Ira Gershwin masterpiece also from 1937, A Foggy Day. The film which introduced it was A Damsel in Distress and Fred Astaire its imperishably elegant star.
Although she seemed every inch the great continental star, Hildegarde was born in the United States and brought up in Milwaukee, where her talent was recognised at an early age. She enjoyed an extended career in cabaret both before and after the war. Her visits to England were eagerly awaited and appreciated. Indeed her pre-war recording activities were largely based here. The subtle sensitivity and intelligence of her singing style is ideally suited to Irving Berlins classic This Years Kisses, written for the lustrous Alice Faye to introduce in the wonderful 20th Century Fox musical On the Avenue. Later on, Hildegarde recalls the glory days of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The film was Top Hat, and the song Cheek to Cheek, another hit from Irving Berlins overflowing catalogue of hits, heard here in a French language version.
Frank Albert Sinatra from Hoboken, New Jersey may well be the popular singer of the century. His recordings attest his skill and talent. Originally a band singer with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, the latter as a member of the Pied Pipers (Jo Stafford was also in the group), Frank burst forth as a solo singer becoming one of the first bobby-soxer teen idols, and films, radio and personal appearances sealed his fame. Heres an early gem - an early recording of Nacio Herb Brown and Gordon Cliffords Paradise, first published in 1933, recorded by Sinatra in 1945.
It is exceedingly hard for a continental artiste to establish an international reputation in the English speaking musical world. One who did so was Jean Sablon, who began his career as vocalist with Don Marino Barreto at Melodys Bar in Pari