Casa Loma Orchestra - Love Is A Dreamer (1929) video free download


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Duration: 03:52
Uploaded: 2010/02/14

For Valentines Day - A Few Songs about Love & Romance:

Though often linked with leader Glen Gray, the Casa Loma Orchestra was the first swing band. As early as 1929 they began playing the same mixture of hot jazz and sweet ballads that Benny Goodman would later popularize and that would dominate the music industry in the 1930s and 1940s.

Originally named the Orange Blossoms, the group first formed in Detroit during the mid-1920s as an offshoot of Jean Goldkette's orchestra. Gray, then known as Spike Knoblaugh, joined the group in the winter of 1925-26 as a sax player. Henry Biagini was leader. Playing in and around the Detroit area the Orange Blossoms were booked into Toronto newest club called the Casa Loma in 1927. Built in preparation for a visit by the Prince of Wales the club never opened, and in 1929 the Orange Blossoms, shedding Goldkette's mantel and striking out on their own, decided to rename themselves the Casa Loma Orchestra in memorial.

The bandmembers formed a cooperative, dismissing Biagini and electing Gray as leader. They moved to New York and were soon booked into the Roseland Ballroom, where a representative from Okeh Records discovered them and offered a deal. Never in its history did it really have a great lineup, and often times it sounded flat when attempting jazz, the Casa Loma Orchestra had a unique sound and quickly began to attract the attention of the hipper college crowd.

After cutting six sides for Okeh the group signed with Brunswick. They were so popular however that Victor also signed them, and the group ended up recording on both labels simultaneously. Eventually they began to record exclusively for Brunswick and remained there until signing with Decca. On their first sides for Okeh and Brunswick, they were billed as simply the Casa Loma Orchestra. Victor however billed them as Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra which they continued to use after leaving Victor.

In 1933 and 1934 the group was featured on the Camel Caravan radio program, becoming the first swing band to appear on a commercial radio series. They played both summers at the Glen Island Casino, where frequent radio broadcasts helped boost their popularity across the country. By 1935, however, the swing era had begun, and the orchestra was no longer a trend setter. Despite this, they still continued to remain popular, by performing at the Paramount Theater and settling into a booking at the swank Rainbow Room.

By 1940 the Casa Loma Orchestra had begun to lose its popularity. Major personnel changes followed. Tutti Camarata and Harry Rodgers were in charge of arrangements. The LeBrun Sisters sang. Kenny Sargent who had served as vocalist since the bands early days left in 1943 and was replaced by female vocalist Eugenie Baird. Red Nichols also appeared with the band for a short time.

By 1945 the group's popularity had tanked, and they called it quits. In the mid-1950s Gray recorded a series of big band nostalgia albums for Capitol with a studio orchestra. The project was a huge success and Gray was offered his own band, but he declined and remained in retirement. He died from cancer in 1963.

Comments

10 years ago

Kirk Barkley

Recorded on the same day Wall Street Laid that Infamous EGG!

10 years ago

Jim Jasion

The 1930's getting started early. The Casa Loma Orchestra has never ceased to amaze me.

10 years ago

Jim Jasion

The 1930's getting started early.

11 years ago

MsTappingtoes

This song is so beautiful. Thank you for uploading.

12 years ago

althazarr

GREAT song!

14 years ago

Barry I. Grauman

Not only that, this was the Casa Loma Orchestra's initial recording for Brunswick (with Henry Biagini conducting). Jack Raymond is the vocalist....

14 years ago

ASACurator

Kind of Ironic, huh? lol

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