What'll You Do? - Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders (1926)

Описание: This fun little dance number called "What'll You Do?" comes to us from Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders. The song was originally composed by Chester Conn and written by Ned Miller and was first recorded by Sophie Tucker in September 1927. Hamp's version comes just two months later, being recorded on November 9, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois. The vocals are provided by Hal White and the group consisted of a violin, 3 saxophones, 2 trumpets, a trombone, a tuba, a banjo, a piano and traps. Takes two and three of this song would make it to records with slight variations between them. This is take three.

Johnny Hamp was born on July 8, 1894 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The story goes that he became a bandleader by chance when "The Serenaders" were performing in Hershey. He happened to be at the right place at the right time when the band leader had an argument with the orchestra and stormed off stage and out of the room altogether. In a textbook "fake it 'til you make it" scenario, Hamp, who had never played a musical instrument, volunteered to lead the band for the rest of the night and the band accepted. He must have done a good enough job as the band asked him to stay on. The bands name would change to "John Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders" on account of their use of "My Old Kentucky Home" as their theme song.

Hamp's group would record solely for Victor, beginning in August 1925. By June 1926, they would have their biggest song, "Black Bottom" which was so popular, it started a nationwide dance craze of the same name. The band would continue recording until 1929. Following The Kentucky Serenaders, Hamp directed a band under a pseudonym, the "Carl Graub Orchestra" which came and went in 1931, followed by the "Johnny Hamp Orchestra" that would start out with Victor for 1931 and 1932, but would focus on touring, live shows and radio for a few years, reemerging on American Recording Company labels for a session or two in 1935, then back to Victor in 1936 and 37 for two more sessions before the orchestra disbanded. Hamp would lead a couple other small bands in the late 1930's and 1940's, winding up as a hotel house band leader in Chicago. He would pass away in 1958.