Authentic Dance Band Orchestrations From The 1920s & 1930s
Music by
Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Duke Ellington, Harry Warren, Richard Whiting,
Harry Revel, Ralph Rainger, Harry Barris, Sam Coslow, Nacio Herb Brown,
Arthur Johnston, Fred Ahlert, Rube Bloom, and E.A. Swan.
Vocals by Johnny Crawford
Recorded LIVE, during performances at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art,
and in the historic Gold Room of the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel.
VINTAGE DANCE MUSIC ~ TO SWEETEN THE SEASON
Inspired by dance band records made between the two world wars by the orchestras of Ray Noble, Paul Whiteman, Jean Goldkette, Leo Reisman, Duke Ellington, Abe Lyman, Vincent Lopez, Jimmie Grier, Earl Burtnett, The Dorsey Brothers, Ben Bernie, Ben Selvin, Ted Fiorito, Fred Rich, Cab Calloway, Roy Fox, Jack Payne, Guy Lombardo, Ted Weems, Ozzie Nelson, Anson Weeks, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Nat Shilkret, Victor Young and many, many others.
Another inspiration: Jean Harlow, sweepin' the clouds away, in her 1932 Packard.
Sounds Like
I love singing; in the car, in the shower, anywhere really. Especially when I'm being paid to do it, although that doesn't happen very often in the shower. Depending on my mood, some of the late, great singers I may emulate include Fred Astaire, Smith Ballew, Al Bowlly, Buddy Clark, Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby, Dick Powell, Rudy Vallee, Harry Barris, Cliff Edwards, Phil Neeley, Lew Conrad, Dick Todd, Tino Rossi, Jean Sablon, Maurice Chevalier, Bob Dylan and Sophie Tucker.
MEDIA RELATIONS
Bonnie Winings
e: Bwinings@SWPRgroup.com
p: 818.760.7131
I was a very happy Mouseketeer when I was given a brief solo at our first recording session in 1955. Later, I enjoyed recording for Del-Fi Records. But what I loved most during my youth, was acting in a western series, having my own horse, learning to rope, and playing Red River Valley on my harmonica. In my head, I was actually living in the 1880s, and I continued to live there even after two years in the army; as a young veteran, I couldn't resist the allure of rural America, and the excitement of participating in cowboy events at dusty arenas. My family was a little concerned.
Then, in my 26th year, I began a road trip from which I have never returned.
An antique automobile put me in touch with the spirit of my grandfather, Bobby Crawford (1889-1941). A former jockey from Chicago, the "dynamo song plugger" married the young pianist at Woolworth's and soon became vice president of Irving Berlin's music publishing company. Not satisfied, he left Berlin to form De Sylva, Brown & Henderson as well as Crawford Music Corporation, and moved his office into the penthouse of New York's famous Brill Building ("Tin Pan Alley"). He made a quick fortune. Then he lost it, even quicker, about the time my old car was rolling off the assembly line, in the "fall" of 1929.
I became possessed by my grandfather's spirit. I would find myself driving around in the middle of the night, hearing forgotten dance bands and singing songs I didn't even know I knew. Instead of the 1880s, suddenly I was living in the 1920s. This was considerable progress, but my family was still a little concerned. So, after word got around, arrangements were made and two years were spent in an institution on the east coast known as Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, the notorious asylum for musicians lost in time (see top friends).
When I got back to LA, the brakes on the old car were frozen, but grandpa's spirit kept me moving. Crawford Music Services, now in it's 17th year, stays quite busy doing special events for a list of clients that includes Paramount Pictures, Fox Television, the Academy Foundation, the Art Directors Guild, UCLA and USC. The flagship of the company is the Johnny Crawford Dance Orchestra, from which a long promised CD is NOW AVAILABLE.
I hope you enjoy these vintage dance band arrangements, and the spirit of my grandpa, as much as I do.
I just wanted to thank you for the add (couldn't remember if I had or not). Love your music and voice; but what I really wanted to tell you is that they are showing Rifleman reruns right now - we're trying to catch them all, but you were so good in that show and I was so glad to hear that you enjoyed your experience on the show. What was Chuck Connors like - was he like a father figure to you. It sure seemed like it.
Thanks again for your beautiful music and the nostalgia of the Rifleman!!
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