THE ANDREWS SISTERS

In considering the best in music, I decided to begin with the Big Band sound. The group that comes to my mind first was The Andrews Sisters, singing stars of the 1930's and 1940's. Blonde Patty, the youngest, was always in between Laverne, the oldest, and Maxene, when singing. These three sisters, sensations in Vaudeville, radio, records, and stage, made 17 movies between 1940 and 1948. Their first record in 1937 "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon", was a million-seller. No wonder they remain the #1 female singing group in recording history, with hits like "Begin the Beguine", "Say 'Si, Si'", "Beat Me Daddy Eight To the Bar", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "The Jumping Jive", "South American Way", and my personal favorite, "Rhumboogie". Their 1945 #1 smash hit "Rum and Coca Cola" was written by comedian Morey Amsterdam, who played Buddy Sorrell of the Dick Van Dyke Show. Cassettes and CD's are available of the amazing Andrews Sisters, who had 19 gold records in their career. They performed with the ultimate best of the big bands, including the Dorseys.

Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy's brother, was a fine musician as one of the "fabulous Dorseys". Among his hits were "So Rare", "The Dorsey Stomp", and tuneful collaborations with vocalists Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell. Together they recorded "Amapola" {Pretty Little Poppy}, "Tangerine", "Green Eyes", and "Maria Elena". Miss O'Connell also made musical history when she signed up for "Six Lessons From Madame LaZonga".

Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy's brother, had 17 #1 hits between 1935 and 1943. He was a multi-talented trumpeter and trombonist who made more than 2,000 records! My personal favorite Tommy tune, "Getting Sentimental Over You" made him The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing. Tommy Dorsey's sentiments included "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Song of India", "Kalamazoo", and "Hawaiian War Chant".

Benny was a "good man" on the clarinet. Known as The King of Swing, Benny Goodman was a royal force of the Big Band era. Benny Goodman's Swing School on radio made the grade with high marks. His orchestra members included musicians who became famous on their own. Trumpeter Harry James, drummer Gene Krupa, and Lionel Hampton were former subjects of the Swing King.

Glenn Miller put listeners "In the Mood" for his music in 1939. This trombone player's orchestra affected people's moods for years. He had the populace swinging to "Jukebox Saturday Night", greatly influencing jukebox sales. Dreamy moods were created by "Moonlight Serenade", "Rhapsody in Blue", "Indian Summer", and "You Stepped Out of A Dream". {This tune was sung by Tony Martin to lovely Hedy Lamarr in MGM's 1941 "Ziegfeld Girl"}. Miller's "Little Brown Jug" and "Pennsylvania 6-5000" were other mood swingers. Noteworthy mention is also made of other bands and singers of the Big Band era: Ray Anthony, Doris Day. Carmen Cavallaro, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers, Dinah Shore, Kitty Kallen, Perez Prado, Percy Faith and thousands more. Listen to the BEST!!!

My interest in music was encouraged by my parents, who invested in guitars and music lessons for my brother and me. A big influence was Elvis Presley, and other rockabilly stars of the 1950's. We bought many of Elvis' records {he had 104 Top 40 hits} and saw his movies at the local neighborhood theater {he made 26 movies from 1956 to 1969}. Not much more can be mentioned about Elvis that has not already been written in books about him. Rockabilly records were collected as we heard "Blue Suede Shoes", "Summertime Blues", and anything by Don and Phil, the Everly Brothers.

The record collection grew as we entered the "doo-wop" stage in the late 1950's. The music influence had by now shifted to the North. This was the time that music types began blending together, with the roots in Rhythm and Blues, Rockabilly, or "Country". It was country music with a Rock and Roll sound. Dion and the Belmonts were prime melody makers, as many others who were engaged in "street corner singing". In 1958 Danny and the Juniors were "At the Hop" in south Philadelphia, and the Fiestas were "So Fine" in New Jersey, my home state. Rock and Roll actually began in 1953, BEFORE Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" in 1955. Many people considered the music profoundly changed {or ended} February 3, 1959. That day marked the untimely demise of superstars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. {Big Bopper} Richardson in a tragic plane crash at Clearlake, Iowa. Holly's band was the prototype of the current basic Rock and Roll band: lead guitar, bass, rhythm and drums. He was the first singer to write and produce his own songs, and to use symphony orchestras in his music. These instrumentations were to be used later, including Motown, in forthcoming years.

In the early 1960's The Beachboys sang the virtues of sun, sand, and water, as did other advocates of Surf music! The Ventures became the #1 Instrumental group in the world, greatly influencing guitar instrumental music. In 1964 the British invaded America--- musically! Not since the days of the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere did the influence of music change so dramatically. The Beatles took the world by storm, creating new hair styles, clothing and customs. Noteworthy mention is made of other Rock and Rollers who include: Little Richard, Fats Domino, Stevie Wonder, Lesley Gore, Ricky Nelson, The Crystals, The Supremes, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Connie Francis, Frankie Avalon, The Four Tops, The Four Seasons, Brenda Lee, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke, Duane Eddy, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Marvellettes, The Marcels, and thousands more. This listing contains only a fraction of the artists and musicians involved, with Dick Clark as the "World's Oldest Teenager".

The variety was incredible, the music is indeed memorable!

STEPHANIE