The Swing Shift Shuffle is a radio program of swing, big band, jazz, boogie woogie and other popular music from the 1930's and 40's that airs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (US Central Time) on WEVL 89.9 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, with a live webcast at wevl.org. In addition to the radio show, this blog is dedicated to all aspects of the Swing Era, including art, automobiles, cartoons, comics, history, movies, music, news, science, technology, and anything else that happened during that time. It also includes announcements about events in the Memphis/Mid-South area related to the Swing Era, such as classic movies, concerts, dances, lectures, etc. If you see something that fits the description, send it to me at tim@wevl.org. If you would like more information about the radio show, just go to the Radio Show FAQ page.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Solid! Online Big Band & Jazz Encyclopedia


I just discovered Solid!, an online encyclopedia of big band and classic jazz, featuring biographies of jazz artists from the 19-teens through the 60's.  It appears the site may not have been updated in several years, but the information that is already there makes very interesting browsing.  For example, in the mid-1930's, the young lady at left was a vocalist for the Anson Weeks' orchestra, which at one time or another included Bob Crosby and Xavier Cugat; and backed Bob's brother Bing Crosby on one of his earliest hits.  She went on to Hollywood and the movies, where she changed her style a bit by donning a cowboy hat eventually marrying the King of the Cowboys.  Yes, folks.  That is Dale Evans in her pre-cowgirl days. 

No comments: