Derwin remained on the road until the early 1950's at which point he joined Capitol Records as an A/R Man with his long time friend, Lee Gillette.

Among his noted vocalizations are "That's for me" with Artie Shaw, "Take me back" a duet with Martha Tilton and a few recordings by his own band including "Blue and broken hearted" and "No one but you."

"One of the biggest kicks I have these days" Hal Derwin said from his home in San Diego in 1995 is, "hearing my voice coming out of the mouth of a famous actor. Back in the old days while I worked for Warner, I used to sing for the actors and the studio would dub my voice in. To this day I laugh when I see guys like Cliff Roberson singing with my voice!"
Above notes by Mr Dan DelFiorentino

  [ Emery Deutsch Orch ]
b. 1906, Budapest, Hungary, d. April 16, 1997, Miami, FL, USA.
Theme Song: "When a Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry"
Overview
Emery's orchestra became popular due mostly to his CBS Broadcasts. It was a 'sweet' music type of band, that often featured Emery's syrup-y violin. Some comics, -with bandleader Sammy Kaye's tag of "Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye in mind, gave Emery the Tag of "Sway and Loitch with Emery Deutsch". The band was a perennial favorite during the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, in hotels and clubs around the country. Among the famous venues at which the band played were New York's Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Copacobana nightclub and Radio City Music Hall and Washington, DC's The Mayflower. Over his 60 year career, Emery composed over 80 songs including his theme "When A Gypsy Makes his Violin Cry", and "Play, Fiddle, Play".

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Emery came to the United States with his family when he was 8, and grew up in Cleveland, OH. He later graduated from New York's famed Juilliard School of Music.

Not long after graduating from Juilliard, he became the Music Director of a small radio station in Queens (NYC). The station was later purchased by William S. Paley, and became the nucleus of the Columbia Broadcasting System. Deutsch was appointed music director of the new network and held that post for 11 years. Among the many artists who joined CBS under his aegis were Benny Goodman, Andre Kostelanetz, and Bing Crosby.

Deutsch moved to Miami in 1971, and continued to perform at botels and clubs until 1995. j

Emery died at the Villa Maria rehabilitation center in Miami, FL., 91 years old. He was survived by his companion, Dame Jean Loach of Miami; a brother, Arnold, a sister, Rose Frankel, and his two sons, Gregory and Christopher; all of New York City.

  [ Frank DeVol Orch ]
b. Sept. 20, 1911, Moundsville, W.VA, USA.
Theme song: "Dream Awhile"
né: Frank Denny De Vol
After matriculating from Miami University, De Vol found work in the radio and TV studios. During the 1950's, he recorded "mood music albums" for the Columbia label using a studio orchestra and the "Music By De Vol" moniker. One of those (1960) Columbia albums was the "Bacchanale Suite" by English composer Albert Harris in 1960. Each track is a melody named for a god or goddess of Greek Mythology.

He is also remembered today for his radio and TV theme song compositions for such shows as 'My Three Sons'. This theme, a hit 1961 single release, featured a piano playing a interesting triplet obligato over the melody in 4/4 meter. Among his other work, are scores for many TV shows and he also composed the 'Screen Gems' films Logo Signature tune.

Among his albums are:
'Mercury' from "The Bacchanale Suite", by Albert Harris (1960)
'Pegasus' from "The Bacchanale Suite", by Albert Harris (1960)
"The Millionaire" - Opening and Closing themes, by Frank De Vol
Theme from 'My Three Sons' TV show, Composed by Frank De Vol (1961)

These days (1995) Frank DeVol is active in the Big Band Academy of America (headed by trombonist and net denizen Milt Bernhart (T'bone with Stan Kenton, Shorty Rogers, etc).

  [ Leo Diamond Orch. ]
b. June 29 1915, New York City, NY, d. Sept.15, 1966, Los Angeles, CA
Still another 'graduate' of Borah Minnevitch's Harmonica Rascals, Diamond left to form The Solidaires, -his own harmonica trio. They were able to obtain some Hollywood contracts and appeared in films such as 'Sweet Rosie O'Grady', 'Girl Crazy' and other mid-1940 pictures.

The mid-1950s, saw Diamond working mostly as a solo recording artist. Much of his work during this period resembled that of Les Paul, in that Diamond cut many records for which he over-dubbed all of the different harmonica parts. Included in the songs were exotic sound effects such as bird calls and jet aircraft engines. Diamond's work was reminiscent of Esquivel's recordings in his willingness to introduce exotic and quite startling sounds and to push instruments to their limits. He also did some composing of which the best known are "Off Shore" (in Top 20 late 1953), "The Girls of Brazil," and "Skin Diver's Suite." His 'cover' of "Melody of Love" was a 1955 minor hit.
Among his recordings are:
Ebb Tide, Harmony HS 11328
Exciting Sounds from Romantic Places, ABC-Paramount ABCS-268
Exciting Sounds of the South Seas, Reprise R9-6002
Harmonica Sounds in Country and Western Music, Reprise R9-6059
Hi-Fi Harmonica, Roulette R25019
Off Shore, Reprise R9-6024
Skin Diver Suite, RCA Victor LPM-116
Snuggled On Your Shoulder, RCA Victor LPM-1442
Subliminal Sounds, ABC-Paramount ABCS-303
The Harmonica Magic of Leo Diamond, RCA Victor LPM-1042
Themes from the Great Foreign Films, Reprise R9-6009

  [ Carroll Dickerson's Savoyagers ]
Overview
Operated circa 1928 in Chicago area. They used Carroll's name but the band was lead by Earl "The Fatha" Hines, or sometimes by Louis Armstrong.

Violinist Carroll Dickerson nominally led a band that at various times, included such well know New Orleans musicians as Louis Armstrong, Honore Dutrey, Natty Dominique, and Earl Hines. As can be deduced from the name, the band was resident at Chicago's Savoy Ballroom, but Dickerson also toured on the Pantages Vaudeville circuit and also recorded under the name of Carroll Dickerson's Savoy Orchestra.

One (1928) band (called the Savoy Orchestra) was composed of Earl Hines on Piano; Pete Briggs on Tuba; Mancy Carr on Banjo; Crawford Wethington on Alto Saxophone; Jimmy Strong on Clarinet/Tenor Saxophone; Bert Curry on Alto Saxophone; Louis Armstrong and Homer Hobson on Trumpets; with Fred Robinson on Trombone. Zutty Singleton did the Vocals while Carroll Dickerson was on Violin, and Conducted.

  [ Dixie Stompers ]
Another name used by the Fletcher Henderson Orch. (Around 1925)

  [ Al Donahue Orch ], Violin
Theme Song: "Low Down Rhythm in a Top Hat"
Here are two photographs of Donahue, this informal picture, Al Donahue, and this one of Al formally posed. Donahue was a Boston Law chool graduate who loved playing the violin. His first fame came when he landed a booking at the prestigious Rainbow Room in New York. His vocalist was Phil Brito.(Singer-songwriter ("Mama"), composer, author, b. Sept. 15, 1915, Boomer, West Virginia, USA, d. Oct. 28, 2005, Newark, New Jersey, USA.)
In 1938, the US Bureau of Standards 'sank' a time capsule - not to opened for 5000 years. Inside this capsule was a picture of the Al Donahue 'Swing" Orchestra. Regretfully, Al's orchestra was not a 'swing' orchestra. But in 1941, he re-organized and built a 'swing' orchestra, which, also regretfully, never achieved any great fame. The 'girl' singer was Paula Kelly who went on to fame as part of the Modernaires with the Glenn Miller Orch.

  [ The Will Dodge Orch. ]
William F. (Will) Dodge's musical career spanned 25 years, during which time he became a Boston, MA, favorite all through the 1920s and '30s. He first, performed in the classical genre, appearing with string quartets in cities all over the East. However, it was dance music that led him to his greatest success. His 13 piece orchestra became the house band at Boston's famed Copley Plaza Hotel, and was soon regularly heard via remote Radio Broadcasts from the hotel, during radio's early years.

As a result of his exposure over the airwaves, Will Dodge became one of New England's best-known bandleaders. In 1926, he became Musical Director of Boston radio station WNAC. Among his duties, Dodge and his orchestra provided the accompaniment for the variety show "Ted and His Gang," and would also do concerts of popular hits. In the late 1920s, a few WNAC vocalists (including "Ted" -real name John Wardell) made records for the Brunswick label, and the Will Dodge Orchestra accompanied them.

Dodge also made guest appearances with classical orchestras, performing both in schools and for charities. His fan mail was always large, and he would often play requests from his listening audience. In January 1929, after spending three years at WNAC, he was hired away by a rival Boston radio station, WEEI, then owned by the Edison Electric company. There, he provided the music for WEEI's daily women's show featuring Caroline Cabot, as well as doing several concert programs, much like what he had done on WNAC.

Around 1932, Dodge left WEEI, opened his own recording studio, and returned to his classical and symphonic roots. He organised several civic orchestras which performed throughout Massachusetts, offering "good music" at prices the average person could afford. It was right after one such performance that he was stricken with a brain hemorrhage. He died a few hours later at just age 51.
The BigBands Database thanks Ms. Donna Halper, of Emerson College, for the above entry on Will Dodge.

  [ Clyde Doerr Orch. ]
b. Coldwater, MI, d.
Doerr studied Alto Sax in his hometown high school. In 1914, he matriculated from the King Conservatory in San Jose, California, with the degree of Bachelor of Music. His main study was the violin.

In 1916, Art Hickman's Orchestra, was playing in the Rose Room of San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel. (There is some interesting history on Art Hickman's Original band, shown on our Dance page.) One night, Art dropped in to the Techau Tavern which was down Powell street from the St. Francis and heard Clyde playing alto sax. He hired Doerr, and about the same time he also hired another saxophonist, - Bert Ralton. Doerr and Ralton not only played in the band, but along with Frank Ellis (who would later lead the band when Hickman retired) also recorded a few sides as The Hickman Trio.

Doerr had come to New York in 1919, and again in 1920, when the great show producer Florenz Ziegfeld brought the Hickman orchestra east to appear in his shows. In 1921, Harry Yerkes induced Doerr to return to New York to do some recording. Shortly thereafter, Clyde began leading his own band at the Club Royale.

Listen to soem of Clyde's 1921 Club Royale Orchestra recordings. In 1923, his band was booked into Chicago's Congress hotel.
  "Sheik Of Araby", (561 kb): Clyde Doerr Orchestra (Instrumental)

  "Dapper Dan", (434 kb): Clyde Doerr Orchestra (Instrumental)

  "(What Do We Do On A) Dew Dew Dewey Day", (502 kb): Clyde Doerr Orchestra in 1927. (Instrumental)

  "Blue and Broken Hearted", (481 kb): Clyde Doerr Orchestra in 1927. (Instrumental)

Among his other work, Doerr published a 'Folio Of Easy Saxophone Solos' (1927). Interestingly, some discographers feel that at least a few recordings attributed to Carl Darnley's Orchestra are really by Clyde Doerr's band.

  [ Sam Donahue Orch ],
b. March 8, 1918, Detroit MI, USA, d. March 22, 1974, Reno, NV, USA. (Complications due to Cancer) (Some sources claim: b. March 18, 1918, but this seems to be in error.)
Saxophone/Trumpet/arranger/leader.
Theme song: "I Never Knew"
Here's an album cover photo of Sam, who formed his first band in Detroit in 1941, and later gave up the band to take a job with the Gene Krupa band. Sonny Burke took over the reins of the orchestra, but gave it back to Sam when Sam left Krupa.
He served in the USNR during WWII, along with Artie Shaw. When Shaw was discharged from the Navy, Sam took over the leadership of Shaw's sevice orch. His great swinging style can be heard on the V-Disks that the band cut back then.
After WWII, Sam formed yet another band, but the big band era was fast coming to a close, and the orchestra suffered from a deficiency of bookings, and eventually disbanded.
In the 60's, the Dorsey estate chose Sam to lead the Dorsey Orch after Tommy's tragic death. (Sam had played sax in Dorsey's orch.)
( For more information, see Donahue entry on our March 8 calendar page. )

  [ The Dorsey Brothers Orch. ]
Theme Song: "Sandman"
Here's a picture of the Dorsey Brothers Band, posing with the famed composer Hoagy Carmichael at the piano. It is interesting to see some of the sidemen then with the band, men such as Glenn Miller and Ray McKinley, who would go on to later become leaders themselves. The Dorsey brothers were part of the 'Chicago' group of musicians, which included, Benny Goodman The Dorsey Brothers, Pee Wee Russell, Max Kaminsky, Eddie Condon, Jimmy McPartland, Glenn Miller, and others.

The Dorsey Brothers band played greatly in the Dixieland style during the 1934-1935 years. It was in the summer of 1935, while the band was playing the Glen Island Casino, in New Rochelle, NY, a suburb of New York City, that Tommy had his most celebrated "fit". During a disagreement over Tempo, Tommy gave Jimmy a loud "raspberry" with his trombone, and walked off the stage.

  VIDEO: " Dorsey-itis"   From a TV Show. The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra featuring Charlie Shavers and Louie Bellson. (Film Clip: kpjjazz )

After the Dorseys split up, they each formed their own bands. Jimmy kept what was the original Dorsey Bros band, while Tommy formed a new orchestra. It wasn't too difficult to do on just a moments notice, - he simply took over the Joe Haymes orchestra which was playing the McAlpin Hotel in New York City.

Many years later, near the end of the big band era, the two men got together again, and once more it happily again became "The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra".

  [ Bobby Dukoff Orch. ]
Bobby's fellow musicians applauded his musical ability. He had honed his artistry while working in the bands of Charlie Spivak; Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, and the King himself, Benny Goodman, His work was recognized not just for it's mature and deep feeling for jazz, but also for his ability to transmit that feeling to the listener.

George T. Simon, the former editor of Metronome magazine and a musician himself, played a seminal role in bringing the band to fruition. Simon worked with Dukoff in the creation of the Dukoff orchestra's style, -the band's arranger was Charles Shirley. Then Simon brought Dukoff and his music to the attention of RCA Victor, and even assisted in production of at least two records; the "Sax on Silk" and "Sax on Satin" albums."

The first release "Sax on Silk" combined mood music with jazz overtones. There were those musicians who wondered if the record was just mood music with no jazz, but the public found something in it, and shortly thereafter Dukoff brought out his follow up record. The second release, Sax on Satin", had the Ray Charles Choir singing with the band.

  [ Dilworth's Little German Band ]
Currently no information on this band that was frequently heard on Pittburgh radio station KDKA all during the late 1920s. Here's a photograph of the band under the direction of it's musical director, "Gus Smaltz", on the extreme right side.

  [ Oscar Dumont Orch. ]
This 15 piece Orchestra presided over The Sunset Beach Ballroom in Almonesson, New Jersey from 1949 to 1957 and was one of the last of the big bands to broadcast coast-to-coast over a national radio broadcasting network. The band was a steady fixture over 142 CBS stations playing half-hour broadcasts through CBS affiliate station WCAU in Philadelphia, as well as international broadcasts via the U. S. Armed Forces Network. Oscar whose real name was Oscar Borrelli played drums and the band was billed as "THE NEW NAME IN NAME BANDS". In addition to college and hotel appearances principally in the Delaware Valley area, the group appeared on TV and 'The American Bandstand' program. The band played adaptation sounds of the late Glenn Miller. "Sunset Seranade" was his theme song written by him and two others. The main vocalist was Sam Zoto, and principal arranger, Bob Lowden. His 78RPM records were transferred to tape with limited distribution within the US and Europe. Oscar died some years ago but the band has had reunions during the 1990s at the ballroom where he made his music famous.
The Big Bands Database Plus thanks Mr. Larry Kloess for the above information on the Oscar Dumont Orch.

  [ Dardanelle ]
b. Dec. 27, 1917, Avalon, MS, USA. d. August 8, 1997, USA. Age: 69
née:   Marcia Marie Mullen
Here's a photo of Dardanelle, who was a child prodigy. She studied with Gladys Bacon, a Greenwood, MS, music teacher. Dardanelle's father, Marcius Mosley "Buck" Mullen never studied music. He couldn't read music, but he could play anything, particularly Ragtime, and his daughter was greatly influenced by her father's Jazz and Blues improvisations. Her sister Marie was also a fine pianist who died from influenza at the age of nineteen. After attending local grade school, she majored in music at Louisiana State University and supported herself by working as a house pianist at a local radio station.

In the 1940s, Dardanelle formed a trio, that included herself on vibes and piano, guitarist Tal Farlow (his first professional job. 1924-July 25, 1998 Age: 74), and Paul Edenfield on bass. (This was at a time when women traditionally did not lead bands). After some successful touring, the group became resident at New York City's famed Copacabana club.

During the 1950s, Dardanelle, now Mrs. Hadley, relocated to Chicago, where she raised her family, while supporting herself as a staff pianist for WGN-TV, and also working on a highly regarded children's television show.

In the 1970s, she again relocated to New Jersey, where she formed a new trio that also included her son "Skip" Hadley on drums. She began to perform and record with such Jazz giants as Bucky Pizzarelli, George Duvivier, and Grady Tate, and her career again blossomed.

During the 1980s, she appeared at many festivals, and concerts, and worked on cruise ships and television programs -- once as host of the 'Music in Our Lives' show. She also gigged in such prestigious New York City venues as the Cookery and Carnegie Hall. Interestingly, she was also a very popular performer in Tokyo, Japan, where she resided for a lengthy time. In 1984, Dardanelle returned to Mississippi where she was an active Radio and TV personality, recording artist, and Jazz performer (often joined with her second son, Brian Hadley, on bass).

During 1986 to 1988, she was the 'Artist in Residence' at "Ole Miss" University. In 1994, she took up residence in Winona, Mississippi. In May 1997, She took part in a classic cabaret performance at Lamar King Music Hall, in the Confederate Memorial Building in Greenwood, Mississippi. Dr. London Branch, a bassist, and Murray Kornfeld, a drummer joined her for the performance.

In 1997, this blue-eyed, multi-talented, pioneering Jazz artist died. As a child, she was nicknamed "Peter" or "Pete", because she was such a "tomboy". Her nickname, "Dardanelle", came from newspaper stories during the Second World War about battles in the Dardanelle straits. (There was even a very popular tune called "Dardanella". You may listen to the tune on our Jazz Age Songs, page. (Scroll down and click on the title.) Over the many years of her career, her enthusiasm for music inspired many other female (and male) musicians to follow their ambitions.

  [ Dixie Rhythm Girls ]
In private correspondence, Mr. Robert Whiteside has recalled:
   "My mother's sisters worked around the Jazz business at the Chase Park
   Plaza Hotel (St. Louis, MO), and had played music from childhood, as the
   result of their father an actual 'music man' who started and instructed
   marching bands pre-world war I. The girls had talent. Many years later
   I did hear my old Aunt Effie Enloe/Butts play her cornet. She could only
   muster a few lines after smoking for sixty years but it was obvious she
   had been as great as the stories told. Her sister, Mabel, played violin
   from the age of 8 in theatres with her dad until his death in 1915, but
   did not pursue her career after marriage (she became a great concert organ

   player as a hobby)."The only surviving sister is Velma, who is 99 years old
   this week (Dec 29, 2004) ....Velma did not play with her older sister, Effie's
   group but Velma recounts that the band was highly respected and was a bit
   famous for playing the best after hours jazz club in St. Louis. Velma says
   that all the male Jazz musicians would come by after their regular gigs to
   hearthe Girls play. My mother Dorothy was the baby of the family and
   recalls sitting in on drums a few times even she loved jazz and could play
   a bit ofJoplin but played George Shearing arrangements until her death. My
   father's family were jazz fans in early St. Louis riverboat jazz and my dad's
   brother was a long time member of the St. Louis Jazz Club. He passed away
   last year but told me several years ago about the "gals playing the St. Louis
   hot spot."

   The band, as Velma recalls was:
   Ruth Greenway on Clarinet
   Helen Pilant on Piano (Helen has probably been recorded)
   Effie Enloe on Coronet
   and "Kansas" on drums.

  [ Dale's Dance Orchestra ]
Currently No Information on this band.
The band recorded on the Lincoln label, which was the 'economy' label owned by Cameo Records. Many Lincoln issues were pressed from Cameo masters, with the name of the band that originally recorded for Cameo changed to a pseudonym to prevent the Lincolns from competing with the higher priced Cameos. The Lincoln Records label originated in 1924 and closed in 1930.

In all probability, many of the Lincoln releases were originally 'cut' by one of the Sam Lanin Orchestras.

In 1949, The Lincoln label re-appeared revived by the American Record Corporation which had acquired Cameo years earlier. The label continued through to the mid-1950s, selling mostly 45rpm discs