12 December 2023
(Until 12 December)Freddie Rich – Academy Award Winning Band Leader
Greg Poppleton's Phantom Dancer swing jazz radio show
Freddie Rich, born in Poland, was a US pianist and band leader who lead dance bands then jazz bands in the 1920s, radio bands in the 1930s, and movie studio bands in the 1940s-50s. Freddie Rich was co-writer of the song ‘I’m Just Wild About Animal Crackers’. He’s your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week.
The Phantom Dancer is your weekly non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week.
LISTEN to this week’s Phantom Dancer mix (online after 2pm AEST, Tuesday 12 December) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/
FRED
Among the musicians in Freddie Rich’s 1920s bands were the Dorsey Brothers, Joe Venuti, Bunny Berrigan and Benny Goodman
He studied at the Damrosch Conservatory of Music and led an orchestra at the Hotel Astor from the earley 1920s..
His theme songs were “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” and “So Beats My Heart for You.”
Hee toured Europe from 1925-28 and enjoyed a long band residency at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
In the late 1920s he started leading a studio band.
He recorded for Okeh, Columbia, Paramount, Camden, and Vocalion, often under the names Fred Richards, the Astorites, and the Hotel Astor Band. He recorded piano rolls.
Rich also lead network radio bands and made radio transcriptions including ‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ for Jarman Shoes under the name of ‘Friendly Fred’.
In the late 1930s, he became musical director for radio stations.
RICH
In 1942, he moved to a staff position with United Artists Studios in Hollywood, where he remained for most of his career.
He was nominated for two Academy Awards:
- 1943 – Nominated for Academy Award for Original Music Score (Scoring of a Musical Picture) for Stage Door Canteen
- 1944 – Nominated for Academy Award for Original Music Score (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) for Jack London
12 December PLAY LIST
Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #631 | ||
107.3 2SER Tuesday 12 December 2023 | ||
Set 1 | Duke Ellington | |
Take the A-Train (theme) + Midriff | Duke Ellington Orchestra | ‘Date with the Duke’ 400 Restaurant NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jun 1945 |
Candy | Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Ray Nance | ‘Date with the Duke’ 400 Restaurant NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jun 1945 |
| Black, Brown & Beige Suite: Worksong | Duke Ellington Orchestra | ‘Date with the Duke’ 400 Restaurant NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jun 1945 |
| Black, Brown & Beige Suite: Spiritual + Worksong and Spiritual | Duke Ellington Orchestra | ‘Date with the Duke’ 400 Restaurant NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jun 1945 |
Set 2 | Les Paul & Mary Ford | |
Theme + Tiger Rag | Les Paul & Mary Ford | ‘The Les Paul Show’ Radio Transcription NBC Radio City LA 30 Jun 1950 |
Dry My Tears | Les Paul & Mary Ford | ‘The Les Paul Show’ Radio Transcription NBC Radio City LA 30 Jun 1950 |
Up the Lazy River | Les Paul & Mary Ford | ‘The Les Paul Show’ Radio Transcription NBC Radio City LA 30 Jun 1950 |
Some of these Days + If a Nightinggale Could Sing Like You (theme) | Les Paul & Mary Ford | ‘The Les Paul Show’ Radio Transcription NBC Radio City LA 30 Jun 1950 |
Set 3 | Fred Rich | |
At Your Command | Fred Rich Orchestra (voc & tp) Bunny Berrigan | Comm Rec NYC 15 Jun 1931 |
I’ve Got Five Dollars (theme) + Copenhagen | Fred Rich Orchestra | ‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932 |
Hiding in the Shadows of the Moon | Fred Rich Orchestra | ‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932 |
Some of These Days | Fred Rich Orchestra | ‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932 |
Set 4 | Count Basie | |
April in Paris | Count Basie Orchestra | ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 1956 |
Two Franks | Count Basie Orchestra | ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 1956 |
| The Comeback | Count Basie Orchestra (voc) Joe Williams | ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 1956 |
One O’Clock Jump | Count Basie Orchestra | ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 1956 |
Set 5 | Delta Rhythm Boys | |
Theme + Buying Alone | Harry Sosnick and the Savings Bonds Orchestra | ‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 24 Apr 1949 |
How High the Moon | Delta Rhythm Boys | ‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 24 Apr 1949 |
East of the Sun | Delta Rhythm Boys | ‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 24 Apr 1949 |
Why Do I Love You? + Close | Harry Sosnick and the Savings Bonds Orchestra | ‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 24 Apr 1949 |
Set 6 | Buddy Rich | |
Rain on the Riff (theme) + Cool Breeze | Buddy Rich Orchestra | ‘Spotlight Bands’ Phoenixville Pa Blue Network 24 Dec 1945 |
Nellie’s Nightmare | Buddy Rich Orchestra | Aircheck NYC Apr 1947 |
Minding My Business | Buddy Rich Orchestra (voc) Dottie Reid | ‘Spotlight Bands’ Phoenixville Pa Blue Network 24 Dec 1945 |
Great Moments | Buddy Rich Orchestra | Radio Transcription Los Angeles Mar 1946 |
Set 7 | Dance Band Radio Trancriptions | |
I Wish I Had a Sweetheart | Carl Ravazza Orchestra (voc) Carl Ravazza and Band | Radio Transcription 1941 |
Make With the Kisses | Sterling Young Orchestra (voc) Bobbie Ennis | Radio Transcription 1940 |
Violets For Your Furs | Carl Ravazza Orchestra (voc) Carl Ravazza | Radio Transcription 1941 |
It Had to Be You | Sterling Young Orchestra (voc) Bobbie Ennis | Radio Transcription 1940 |
Set 8 | Jazz Mod | |
| Two French Fries | Oscar Pettiford | Birdland WABC ABC NY Jun 1957 |
| He’s My Guy | Oscar Pettiford | Birdland WABC ABC NY Jun 1957 |
| Scrapple from the Apple | Charlie Parker | ‘Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NYC 5 Feb 1949 |
