Red Norvo, Mildred Bailey - "Three Little Fishies" (1939) video free download

Three Little Fishies

Words and Music by Saxie Dowell

Red Norvo and His Orchestra

Mildred Bailey, vocal

Recorded April 6, 1939

Conqueror 9174

Red Norvo (1908 - 1999) was an important jazz figure as soloist and leader from the mid 1920s into the 1980s. Pioneer on jazz xylophone, later took up vibraphone. Crisp, inventive soloist with impeccable swing and exquisite taste. Leader of advanced big band in middle and late 1930s featuring brilliant Eddie Sauter arrangements. Though swing-school musician, Norvo blended easily into progressive styles in mid 1940s. Good showman, mostly self-taught, as youth switched from piano to xylophone. At 17 led marimba group The Collegians on vaudeville tour. With Paul Ash at Chicago's Oriental Theatre 1926, later toured as vaudeville solo act. Led first band in Milwaukee 1928. In Chicago later 1928-30 as staff musician with Victor Young. Early 1930s with Paul Whiteman, married featured singer Mildred Baily. Freelanced in New York 1934-35, led combos at Famous Door late 1935. Augmented to big band spring 1936, featured vocalist Mildred Bailey, billed as "Mr. and Mrs Swing". Band's outstanding jazzmen Herbie Haymer, Hank D'Amico, Stew Pletcher, George Wettling. Disbanded mid-1939, led bands of varying sizes in 1940s. On Mildred Bailey Show 1944, Late 1944-45 with Benny Goodman Quintet in Broadway musical "Seven Lively Arts." 1946 Joined Woody Herman for a Year as featured soloist and assistant leader. Beginning 1950 mostly led trio. Occasionally on TV in 1950s and 1960s. In the 1960s in west coast and Las Vegas. Featured on 1974 Benny Goodman TV special.

In 1929, Mildred Bailey joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra at $75 a week. A year later, after the increasingly popular Bing Crosby left the band to pursue a movie career, she demanded $1250 a week -- and Whiteman gave it to her. According to Whiteman violinist Matty Malneck, she deserved it. Although the beginning years of the Great Depression had cut bookings drastically for most orchestras, Mildred's singing on the Whiteman's band radio broadcasts brought so much mail that Whiteman was able to use the publicity to keep his band on top despite the loss of Crosby. One of Mildred's most requested songs during this period was Hoagy Carmichael's "Ol' Rockin' Chair" --and soon she was soon dubbed "The Rockin' Chair Lady," a nickname she continued to to exploit when she and husband, Red Norvo left Whiteman in 1934 to go on their own.