Machito y sus Orkestra
b. Feb. 16 1909, Tampa, FL, USA. d. April 15, 1984, London, England
né: Frank Raul Grillo
Tagline: "El Rey del Mambo" (The King of Mambo)
Overview
Machito's band served as a stepping stone for numerous jazz musicians including Cannonball Adderley, Johnny Griffin, and Herbie Mann. In the 1940s, while on a national tour (Mambo U.S.A) with another Latin star, Joe Loco, Machito found his now famous tagline of "The Mambo King" (El Rey Del Mambo). With the ending of the Big Band era, in the 1950s, the popularity of Latin dances and the Mambo also declined. But Machito remained active until his demise.

Soon after Machito's birth, the family moved back to Cuba where his father operated a restaurant. During his later youth, Machito played and sang with many popular Cuban musicians. In 1937, one of his best friends (and later Father-In-Law), Mario Bauza, moved to New York City, where he was musical director for Cab Calloway and later Chick Webb. While with Calloway, he became friends with Dizzy Gillespie who was Calloway's lead trumpet.

Machito soon followed his life-long friend to New York where, from time to time, he worked (as a vocalist) with Noro Morales and Xavier Cugat. But in 1940, Machito and Bauza formed a band (The Afro-Cubans) that played Cuban melodies and rhythms in American style 'Swing' orchestrations. At the time, ASCAP members were on strike and were prohibited from recording, but Bauza and Machito were members of the then new BMI syndicate, and started recording for Decca. Among the songs they released were "Tanga" (written by Bauza), which later became Machito's Theme Song, and "Sopa de Pichon" (Pidgeon Soup)

In 1942, Machito was drafted into the U.S.Army. His sister Graciela Grillo came to New York, where she sang and co-led the band with Bauza. But in 1943, Machito was discarged from the Service due to a sustained injury, and he returned to New York. He was able to obtain a booking for the band at New York's 'La Conga Club', where the band was heard in weekly remote Radio broadcasts.

During the 1940's, Latin rhythms and dances were very popular, and influenced such men as Stan Kenton, whose band was just then gaining wide renown. Kenton, who called Machito "the greatest exponent of Afro-Cuban Jazz", even recorded a tune called "Machito". On January 24, 11947, Kenton and Machito even co-starred in a historic concert at Manhattan's Town Hall.

In December of 1948, record producer Norman Granz released a series of recordings that featured Machito, Charlie "Yardbird" Parker (alto), and Flip Phillips (tenor). Many historians feel that these recordings, featuring arrangements and compostions by Bauza and Chico O'Farrill, estabilished a "Latin-Jazz" connection, which had not previously existed. (These recordings, which some critics believe are Machito's finest work, were later reissued on the 'Mucho Macho' album.)

In 1982, one of his last recordings, as 'Machito and His Salsa Big Band', won the Grammy Award for best Latin album. In 1984, while waiting to go on stage at Ronny Scott's nightclub in London, Machito suffered a fatal heart attack.

Among Machito's recordings are:
       Afro-Cuban Moods, Pablo 2310771
       Irving Berlin in Latin America, Forum SF 9040
       Cha Cha Cha at the Palladium, Tico LP-1002
       Kenya, Roulette 52006
       Live at the North Sea 1982, Timeless SJP 168
       Machito and His Afro-Cubans, Palladium PLP 116
       Machito at the Crescendo, GNP Crescendo GNP58
       Machito and His Salsa Big Band - Machito!!!, Timeless SJP 183
       Machito and His Salsa Big Band, Timeless SJP 161
       Mambo Holiday, Harmony HL 7040
       Mucho Macho: Machito and His Afro-Cuban Salseros, Pablo PACD 2625-712-2
       Mucho Mucho Machito, Palladium PLP 119
       Vacation at the Concord, Coral CRL 57258
       With Flute to Boot, Roulette 52026
       World's Greatest Latin Band, GNP Crescendo GNP72

   [ Herbert Marsh & his Royal Marshals ]
Currently no information available.
Here's a photo of the Herb Marsh Orch., one of the "territory" bands, operating out of Boston, MA, in the early 1930's. (Photo courtesty Mr. Enrico Borsetti.)
The bandsmen included:
Leader & vocalist: Herb Marsh
Trumpets: Andy Ferretti, Irvin Marsh
Drums: Royal Marsh
Saxes: Al Sudhalter, Nat Paris, Aaron Kaljik
Bass: Jack Hildeth
Piano: John McAtier
Guitar: Sparky Tommasetti

   [ Sandy MacFarlane and His Chimney Swallows
b. circa: 1887, Glasgow, Scotland, d. February 1952, Boston, MA, USA.
The band was active during the 'Teens, 1920s, and 1930s, appearing on radio as well as touring. Here's a photograph of the Chimney Swallows

In private correspondence, Mr. Dean-Myatt has recalled:
       "I know very little about him except that he was born in
       Western Scotland and went to America as a young man. He
       made many records for Columbia and Brunswick, all of which
       were of Scottish 'music hall' (vaudeville) type material.
       He composed most of his own songs. One of them, "Granny's
       Hielan'Hame" is still very popular in Scotland, and is in
       the repertoire of most Scots popular singers.
       He is believed to have died in the Boston area. Despite my
       best efforts I just cannot find out anything about him.
       Most people nicknamed 'Sandy' were christened 'Alexander'.
       That's Sandy pictured on the rhs." (right hand side of above
       photo. --ed)

Mr. Dean-Myatt has also noted:
       "His real name was Thomas and he was born in Glasgow, Scotland
       circa 1887 and died in the Boston, Mass. area in February 1952.
       As I said he recorded extensively for Columbia, Brunswick and
       Decca. These records were issued in most of the world's
       Anglophone countries. His most famous and enduring song was
       "Granny's Hielan Hame" (spellings vary), which is still sung today.
       The Granny in the songs was his mother-in-law, a Mrs. Cummings,
       and the cottage is situated in Embo, a small coastal village in
       North-East Scotland."
Mr. Dean-Myatt (Compiler of the Scottish National Discography), is also doing research on the Beltona label. His web URL is: http://www.beltonaproject.co.uk

The 'Weymouth News' (Massachusetts) reported in their Dec. 1, 1933 edition:
       "Sandy MacFarlane, the popular radio entertainer, made his first
       appearance in Weymouth on last Sunday evening at the First Baptist
       Church of Weymouth sponsored by the Men's Brotherhood of the church.
       Mr. MacFarlane's program was appreciated by a large audience of
       friends and members of the Brotherhood. Mr. McFarlane was heard in
       a group of his Scottish songs and also gave an interesting talk."

Other MacFarlane recordings include:
     "When The Heather Bells are Blooming", Columbia (yr)1916
     "Silly Willie"/"The road to the isles", Brunswick 1128
     "My bonnie hieland Maggie"/"I'm eighty in the mornin'" Brunswick 3824
     "MacNab's a Jolly Sailor,
     "The Lassie I Left on The Shore" (composed & sung by Sandy MacFarlane)

On the Columbia Vivatonal Records series: (Recorded 1931-1934)
     "The Star OF Robbie Burns" Sandy MacFarlane, 2568 D
     "My Nannie's Awa'" Sandy MacFarlane, 2568 D
     "Jack O' Hazeldean" Sandy MacFarlane, 2634 D
     "The Rose Of Allandale" Sandy MacFarlane, 2634 D
     "The Auld Hoose" Sandy MacFarlane, 2668 D
     "When My Ship Comes Sailing Home Again" Sandy MacFarlane, 2668 D

   [ (Sergeant) Markel's Orchestra ]
Currently no information on this orchestra that was active throughout the 1920s, -basically only in the New York City area. They did record several times for Victor, Columbia, and Edison. Here (courtesy Edison Museum) is the Markel band playing "Babyface", in 1926. (The file is in ogg format, play-able on newest versions of Winamp, - and other players.)

   [ Ted Mack Orchestra ]
né: Ted Maguiness
Ted will always be remembered as the host of the 'Original Amateur Hour' radio show, However, Mr Doug Booth has recalled a little known fact about Ted Mack.
       " .....is that he led a dance band. He recorded six tunes
       for the Bluebird label in 1937. The tunes are
       "Carelessly", "Words Fail Me", "I Hum A Waltz", "A Love Song
       Of Long Ago", "Spring Cleaning", and "On A Little Dream
       Ranch". Ted Mack sings on each tune.