Bob Crosby began singing with Anson Weeks (1931-34) and the Dorsey Brothers (1934-35). He led his first band in 1935, when the former members of Ben Pollack's band elected him as titular leader. His most famous band, the Bob-Cats, was a Dixieland jazz group with members from the Bob Crosby Orchestra. Both the Bob Crosby Orchestra and the smaller Bob-Cats group specialized in Dixieland jazz, presaging the traditional jazz revival of the 1940s. Crosby's singing voice was remarkably similar to that of his brother Bing, but without its range.
The Bob Crosby Orchestra and the Bob Cats included (at various times) Yank Lawson, Billy Butterfield, Muggsy Spanier, Matty Matlock, Irving Fazola, Ward Silloway, Warren Smith, Eddie Miller, Joe Sullivan, Bob Zurke, Jess Stacy, Nappy Lamare, Bob Haggart, Walt Yoder, Jack Sperling, and Ray Bauduc. Arrangements for the orchestra were often done by a young trumpeter by the name of Gilbert Portmore who, during the time he was a decorated WWII fighter pilot in the South Pacific, started an Air Force swing band known as Cap'n Portmore's Hepcats.
The orchestra was actually led by sax player Gil Rodin, with Crosby himself simply the front man, chosen for his personality, looks, and famous last name.
Source: Wikipedia.
I have always enjoyed Bob Crosby. I guess it comes from listening to vintage radio programs where he was featured. The recording in this post is another discovery from a newsgroup. It is a vinyl transfer and represents a recording that never made it to CD.
Track list and credits:
FIRST SHOW: CAMEL CARAVAN
Side One Personnel:
BOB CROSBY ORCHESTRA: June27,1939-CBS(WABC)
Studio Playhouse #3, New York
Bob Crosby (I/v); Billy Butterfield, Zeke Zarchy, Shorty Sherock (tp); Warren Smith, Ray Conniff (tb); Irving Fazola (Cl); Joe Kearns, Bill Stegmeyer (as); Eddie Miller (cl/ts); Joe Sullivan (p); Nappy Lamare (g/v); Bob Haggart(b); Ray Bauduc (dms); Johnny Mercer, Kay Starr (v).
THE BOBCATS:
Billy Butterfield (tp); Warren Smith (tb); Irving Fazola (cl); Eddie Miller (ts); Joe Sullivan (p); Nappy Lamare (g); Bob Haggart (b); Ray Bauduc (dms).
1. SOUTH RAMPART STREET PARADE - Bob Crosby Orch.
(Bauduc - Haggart - 1936) Arr: Haggart
2. GET ON BOARD AND RIDE - Johnny Mercer &
(Mercer) Bob Crosby Orch.
3. SUNRISE SERENADE - Bob Crosby Orch.
(Carle - Lawrence - 1939) Arr: Matlock
4. STUMBLING - Bob Crosby Bobcats
(Confrey - 1922) Arr: Haggart
5. MEMPHIS BLUES - Kay Starr with Bob Crosby Orch.
(Handy - 1913) Arr: Matlock
6. BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA - Bob Haggart - Ray Bauduc Duet
(Bauduc - Haggart - 1938) Arr: Haggart
7. THEN I'LL BE HAPPY - Bob Crosby Orch.
(Friend - Clare - Brown - 1925) Arr: Matlock
SECOND SHOW: CAMEL CARAVAN
Side Two Personnel:
BOB CROSBY ORCHESTRA: July4, 1939 - CBS (WABC),
Studio Playhouse #3, New York
Bob Crosby (l/v); Billy Butterfield, Zeke Zarchy, Shorty Sherock (tp); Warren Smith, Ray Conniff (tb); Irving Fazola (cl); Joe Kearns, Bill Stegmeyer (as); Eddie Miller (cl/ts); Gil Rodin (ts); Joe Sullivan (p); Nappy Lamare (g/v); Bob Haggart (b); Ray Bauduc (dms); Johnny Mercer, Helen Ward (v).
THE BOBCATS:
Billy Butterfield (tp); Warren Smith (tb); Irving Fazola (cl); Eddie Miller (ts); Joe Sullivan (p); Nappy Lamare (g); Bob Haggart (b); Ray Bauduc (dms).
1. THE LADY'S IN LOVE - Bob Crosby Orch.
(Lane - Loesser - 1939) Arr: Kincaide
2. I'VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING - Helen Ward with Bob CrosbyOrch.
(Arlen - Kroehler - 1933) Arr: Matlock
3. LITTLE ROCK GETAWAY - Joe Sullivan with Bob Crosby Orch.
(Sullivan - 1937) Feat: Joe Sullivan
Arr: (Matlock - Haggart - Kincaide)
4. IF I DIDN'T CARE - Bob Crosby with Orch.
(Lawrence - 1939) Arr: Matlock
5. HINDUSTAN - Bob Crosby Bobcats
(Weeks - Wallace - 1918) Arr: Haggart
6. NEWSY - BLUESY - Johnny Mercer with Bob Crosby Orch
ODE TO PICNICKERS
(Mercer)
7. PAGAN LOVE SONG - Bob Crosby Orch.
(Brown - Freed - 1929) Arr: Matlock
Download link: Enjoy the Music!
More Bob Crosby recordings:
- March of the Bobcats
- 22 Original Big Band Hits
- Big Band Dixieland
- Bob Crosby and the Bobcats: The Complete Standard Transcriptions
- Dixieland Swing: Bob Crosby & His Bobcats
- A Proper Introduction to Bob Crosby: The Big Noise From Winnetka
- South Rampart Street Parade
- America Swings: The Great Bob Crosby
- Bob Crosby and the Bobcats
- Stomp Off, Let's Go!
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