[ Georgie Auld Orch. ]
b. May 19, 1919 Toronto, Canada; d. Jan. 8, 1990 Palm Springs, CA, USA.
né: John Altwerger
Played: tenor saxophone
Theme: "I've Got A Right To Know" (Musicraft- never issued)
Overview
This fine Canadian saxist played with such well known bands as Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Count Basie. His own band carried the stigma of playing avant garde music for musicians rather than playing music that would please the general public. Never-the-less, arrangers such as Neal Hefti; Al Cohn and Manny Abram gave the band a 'swinging book', and Auld did develop a devoted following. From time to time, the band included such side men as Billy Butterfield; Al Porcino; Dizzy Gillespie and Errol Garner on piano. A bout with Tuberculosis (which was cured) was finally instrumental in his disbanding. He then continued his career mostly working with small groups.

Auld first became known for his work with Bunny Berigan's band in 1937. By 1939 he had joined the Artie Shaw Orchestra. He took over leadership of the band when Shaw ran off to Mexico in 1940 but was unable to keep it together and the band broke up after only three months. The first recordings as 'Georgie Auld & His Orchestra' were made during his stay with Shaw (Varsity, 1940) with the band consistiting of members of Shaw's orchestra. Tony Pastor (ts) appears on four of these titles.

After the Shaw band broke up Auld joined Benny Goodman band. He can be heard on numerous recordings of the Benny Goodman Sextet which also featured Cootie Williams and Charlie Chirstian. Auld left Goodman in the summer of 1941 to rejoin Artie Shaw, who had started a new band. He remained there until January 1942 when Shaw disbanded, this time to join the Navy.

Auld's own band lasted from 1943 to 1946. His first records were made for Apollo with the band sometimes augmented with Dizzy Gillespie, Trummy Young, Billy Butterfield and Errol Garner. Sarah Vaughn made two of her earliest recordings with Auld's band in 1945 (Musicraft). He was forced to disband in 1946 when it found he had contracted tuberculosis. His health eventually improved to the point where he was able to resume his musical career and, in 1948, Auld was fronting small combos playing modern jazz at The Three Deuces (NY). Later that year Auld opened his own club on New York's 52nd Street, The Troubadour Club, and appeared in a Broadway show, The Rat Race. In early 1950, he was a member of the Count Basie Sextet. Later that year and through 1951, he led a quintet that featured future Kenton sideman Frank Rosolino. Health problems related to his bout with tuberculosis caused him to move to California where he opened another club, The Melody Room.

He continued leading small jazz groups for the rest of his career and made numerous recordings with these groups and as "leader" of studio orchestras. His 1955 Emarcy LP, "In The Land Of Hi-Fi" is considered a jazz classic. He worked as Tony Martin's music director (1967-1969) and in the early 1970's became so popular in Japan he made over a dozen tours of that country. Auld had a feature part in the 1977 movie "New York, New York". He remained active until his death.
Recorded for: Apollo (1944), Guild and Musicraft (1945-1946), Discovery (1949), Roost (1951), Coral (1951-1955), and afterwards, studio LP's for many labels
Vocalists: Kay Foster, Patti Powers, Lynne Stevens
Arrangers: Todd Dameron, Budd Johnson, Neal Heft, Al Cohn
This Auld entry due in part to Mr Robin Lenhart

[ Mitchell Ayres & his Fashions in Music Orch. ]
b. Dec. 24, 1910 Milwaukee, WI, USA. d. Sept. 5, 1969, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
Theme Song: "You Go to My Head" (Bluebird 10814)
Mitchell Ayres formed his band in the mid-1930's when Mitch (then known as Mitchell Agress) and a group of other musicians, left the 'Little Jack Little Orchestra' to form their own band. This was another of the "co-operative" bands. The members owned it, and elected Mitchell as the front man.
Vocalists were Meridith Blake; Maryann Mercer and Tommy Taylor.
The orchestra dis-banded in the mid-'40's, Ayres became the musical director for Columbia Records and also for the Perry Como Show.
He died in Las Vegas, NV. on Sept. 5 1969, when he was struck by an automobile while crossing the street.

[ Don Azpiazu and his Havana Casino Orch ]
Don Azplazu formed his orchestra in 1928 and gained fame for his version of the "Peanut Vendor". The song, which was adapted from "El Manisero," was recorded on Victor Records (number 22483-B) in November 1930 and began a number one hit for two months. The Azplazu Orchestra performed the "Peanut Vendor" the next year in the movie "Cuban Love Song."

1931 was also the year the orchestra recorded the original version of "Green Eyes." Years later the song was translated to English and recorded by Jimmy Dorsey and scores of other American dance bands.
Above notes via Mr. Dan Del Fiorentino.