Sunrise Serenade: Swing Me With Rhythm

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Swing Me With Rhythm" by Louis Prima and His New Orleans Gang.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Back In The USSR (For A Holiday)

In one of his 1930's travel books (the title of which escapes me), Richard Halliburton visited the Soviet Union.  I do not remember all the details, but I know he got married and divorced within a few minutes, to and from his tour guide.  This activity, and the rapidity with which it could be accomplished, was apparently a popular tourist attraction.  He also visited a school for young circus performers, and interviewed a soldier who gave an account of the execution of the Romanovs.  According to this article from the May 1934 issue of Harpers Magazine, posted on Modern Mechanix, visiting the USSR as a vacation destination was not as unthinkable idea as it would be a few decades later.

Sunrise Serenade: We'll Stand The Storm

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "We'll Stand The Storm" by the Golden Gate Quartet.  Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Playlist For April 4, 2012

The playlist for the April 4, 2012 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

Firefighting Cat

It appears that cats ruled media even before the internet. I saw this video on Boing Boing. There is no obvious information on the year, but based on the announcer, clothes and equipment - specifically the fire chief's 1936(?) Chevrolet coupe - I'd say this originated in the mid- to late 1930's. While Mickey did not seem thrilled about the fire helmet, and we do not know how he felt about being thrown against the fire pole, he looked like he was a good sport when riding with the chief.

Sunrise Serenade: Ride On

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Ride On" by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra with Anita O'Day.  Enjoy the YouTube video below. 

Lindys And Tigers And Rags, Oh My!

The Tiger Rag happens tomorrow night and every Wednesday at the Madison Dance Studio inside Minglewood Hall at 1555 Madison Avenue at 8:00 p.m. You can also sign up for dance classes every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.  More info here. 

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room with free admission and lesson before 7:00 p.m., and $5 cover at the door afterwards.  The lesson will be by Mike T and Jasmine with music by Bethany.  Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: King Porter Stomp

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "King Porter Stomp" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Memphis Belle Rising Again

There is a neat story in The Commercial Appeal today about the continuing restoration of the Memphis Belle, the first Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress to survive 25 missions over Europe in Word War II with its crew intact.  Named after the then sweetheart of the pilot, the Belle is undergoing a full restoration at the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

Sunrise Serenade: Baltimore Oriole

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Baltimore Oriole" by Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.