Dorsey Brothers Orchestra - Was It a Dream? (1928)

Описание: Performed by: Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

Vocalist: Smith Ballew

Full Song Title: Was It a Dream?

Recorded in: July 16th, 1928

The Dorsey Brothers were a popular American studio dance band, led by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. They started recording in 1928 for OKeh Records.

The Dorsey Brothers recorded songs for the dime store labels (Banner, Cameo, Domino, Jewel, Oriole, Perfect). A handful of sides during their Brunswick period were issued by Vocalion.

They signed to Decca in 1934, formed a touring band, with Tommy as front man, and a rather unusual lineup of one trumpet, three trombones, three saxes & four rhythm. The band performed live mainly in the New England area, with acrimony between the brothers steadily building up, until a definitive falling out between Tommy & Jimmy over the tempo of "I'll Never Say Never Again Again" in May 1935, after which Tommy walked off the stage. Glenn Miller composed four songs for the Dorsey Brothers when he was a member in 1934 & 1935, "Annie's Cousin Fannie", on which both Tommy & Glenn share the rather racy vocal, "Dese Dem Dose", "Harlem Chapel Chimes", & "Tomorrow's Another Day". Miller left in late 1934 to take up the job as Ray Noble's musical director & arranger.

In 1935, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra had two No. 1 recordings on Decca, including "Lullaby of Broadway" with Bob Crosby on vocals, topping the charts for two weeks & No. 1 for three weeks.

Tommy Dorsey permanently left the orchestra in 1935 to take over the Joe Haymes band, turning it into Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra, with the nucleus of the Dorsey Brothers' Orchestra carrying on under Jimmy's leadership. Tommy's chair was filled by the 16-year-old Bobby Byrne. The Dorseys reunited on March 15, 1945, to record a V-Disc at Liederkranz Hall in New York City. Released in June 1945, the disc contained "More Than You Know" & "Brotherly Jump". The songs were performed by the combined orchestras of Jimmy & Tommy Dorsey. They reunited again in 1947 for the film The Fabulous Dorseys. In 1950, Jimmy disbanded his orchestra & joined Tommy's band on a permanent basis. On May 23, 1953, the combined orchestra made its television debut on the Jackie Gleason Show. Starting in 1954, they had a network TV series, Stage Show produced by Jackie Gleason. Elvis Presley made his national television debut on their show in 1956.

On November 26, 1956, Tommy died in his sleep at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut, a week after his 51st birthday, Jimmy, already desperately ill, carried on for some months with Tommy's silent trombone displayed on stage, until in June 1957 he succumbed to lung cancer at age 53 in New York City.

Sykes "Smith" Ballew (born January 21, 1902 – died May 2, 1984) was an American actor, sophisticated singer, orchestra leader, and a western singing star. He also was billed as Buddy Blue, Charles Roberts, and Billy Smith.

The son of William Young Ballew & his wife, May Elizabeth Smith Ballew, he was born in Palestine, Texas in 1902, where he grew up attending local schools. He attended Sherman High School, Austin College & the University of Texas.

During his time at Austin College, Ballew & his brother, Charlie, formed the Texasjazzers orchestra. Before that, he organized Jimmie's Joys jazz combo at the university, playing banjo & singing with the group.

Starting in the late 1920s, he became one of the most recognizable vocalists on hundreds of dance band & jazz records, based in New York City. During this time, Ballew along with Scrappy Lambert, Dick Robertson, & Chick Bullock were the most prolific studio vocalists. In 1929, he organized the Smith Ballew Orchestra, with a focus on his singing.

Ballew began his singing career on the radio. In the 1930s he became known as one of the earliest of the singing cowboys on the movie screen. His film debut came in Palm Springs (1936). He did a series of musical Westerns for Paramount Pictures & one for 20th Century Fox, continuing in supporting roles until the 1950s. He also dubbed singing for John Wayne in The Man from Utah (1934).

Ballew was one of the hosts of old-time radio's Shell Chateau.

Ballew's band's opening theme song was "Tonight There Is Music in the Air"; its closing theme was "Home".

Between 1929 & 1935, he made scores of records issued under his own name for OKeh, the dime store labels (Banner, Domino, Jewel, Regal, Perfect, Oriole as Buddy Blue & His Texans or Jack Blue's Texans), Columbia, & Crown. Few of these popular records gave any indication of his future Cowboy style.

Ballew died at the age of 82 in Longview, Texas. He was buried in Fort Worth.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I have.

Best wishes,
Stu
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