Seger Ellis "VOICE OF THE SOUTHLAND" (1928)

Описание: "Voice of the Southland"
Composed by Gene Austin, Marty Bloom and Ted Koehler
Vocal by Seger Ellis
Recorded April 20, 1928

"Voice of the Southland" is a song that expresses a nostalgia for a less complicated life, and a longing for home and family. This song was written by crooner and songwriter, Gene Austin, who had a very popular recording of this same song. It's interesting to note that both Gene Austin and Seger Ellis were born in Texas.

Seger Ellis. Born in Houston, Texas, July 4, 1904. Died in Houston Texas on September 29, 1995. Seger Ellis' career in music as a professional began when he was 21 years old. At that time, he was employed by radio station KPRC in his hometown to do a weekly solo piano broadcast. In 1925, Victor Records recorded two new tumes with Ellis and his band., "You'll Want Me Back Someday" and "Mama." The management of Victor was impressed with the quality of Ellis' orchestra and recorded 14 additional songs in Camden, New Jersey, the home of Victor Records. Two of the songs--- "Sentimental Blues" and "Prairie Blues"-- became hit records. These were the first two songs that Victor recorded using the new electric process. The band went on to record for Okeh and Columbia records and had as sidemen Louis Armstrong, Joe Venuti, Mannie Klein, Eddie Lang, Muggsey Spanier and Tommy Dorsey. In 1930, Ellis, by this time a full-time singer, did a nightly radio broadcast on Cincinnatti's WLW, where he discovered the Mills Brothers and became their first manager. In 1934, Ellis made several movie shorts in Hollywood and guested on Paul Whiteman's radio show. In 1935, he formed a big band using only one clarinet and eight brass, becoming the Seger Ellis and His Choir of Brass Orchestra. At that time the band recorded for Decca Records with arrangements by Spud Murphy. In 1941, he disbanded and joined the Army Airforce. When he was released, he became a full-time songwriter penning such hits as "December" (Count Basie), "You're All I Want For Christmas," "Little Jack Frost," "Get Lost" (Bing Crosby), "Gene's Boogie" (Gene Krupa), "My Beloved Is Rugged," and "11:60 pm" (Harry James).