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Marie Magdalene “Marlene” Dietrich was a German and American actress and singer whose career spanned from the 1910s to the 1980s. She was known for her humanitarian efforts during World War II, housing German and French exiles, providing financial support and even advocating their American citizenship. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Dietrich the ninth greatest female screen legend of classic Hollywood cinema. She is your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week.

Horrie Dargie was an Australian harmonica player and clarinetist, television compère (Personally Yours (1959), BP Super Show (1959–1962) and The Delo and Daly Show (1963–1964)), talent manager, music label founder (Go!! Records) and music arranger. His Horrie Dargie Quintet was awarded the first gold record in Australia for ‘Horrie Dargie Concert’ (1952). Horrie is your Phantom Dancer feature artist again this week.

Horrie Dargie Quintet was awarded the first gold record in Australia for ‘Horrie Dargie Concert’ (1952). Horrie is your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week.

Joseph Christopher Liggins, Jr. was an American R’n’B, jazz and blues pianist and vocalist who led Joe Liggins and his Honeydrippers in the 1940s and 1950s. His band appeared often on the Billboard magazine charts. Joe Liggins was the older brother of R’n’B performer Jimmy Liggins. Joe is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist.

Hurry, Book Now! Saturday August 10, 6:30-10pm Sorcery and Swing. Greg Poppleton 1920s Band and The Gentleman Magician Bruce Glen bring you a Sorcery & Swing dinner show of music and dazzling magic. All in Sydney’s only authentic 1920s room, Cellos, Castlereagh Boutique Hotel. Swing into the roaring 20s. Dress the part ◆ Feel the rhythm ◆ Experience the magic! Check out the show here. Book Now!

Wingy Manone (Joseph Matthews Manone ) was a one-armed New Orleans, American jazz trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. He is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. Listen…

Art Tatum was an American jazz pianist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever. From early in his career, fellow musicians acclaimed Tatum’s technical ability as extraordinary. Tatum also extended jazz piano’s vocabulary and boundaries far beyond his initial stride influences, and established new ground through innovative use of reharmonization, voicing, and bitonality. He is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist.

The Phantom Dancer is your weekly non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week.

Rex Stewart was an American jazz cornetist, composer and chef. You’ll hear him on live 1920s-40s radio on this week’s Phantom Dancer. Listen here…

Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 musical composition written by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band. It premiered at Aeolian Hall NYC on 12 February 1924, 100 years and one day ago today, and for that reason its your Phantom Dancer feature this week. Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, the famous opening clarinet glissando has become as instantly recognizable to concert audiences as the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Listen…

The Eskimo Pie Orchestra is one of a number of US orchestras named for commercial products in the 1920s. These include the B. F. Goodrich Silvertown Tyre Orchestra, The Ipana Troubadours, Michelin Tyre Orchestra, and The Studebaker Champions. The Eskimo Pie Orchestra is your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week. Listen…

Billie Holiday was an American singer. Around 1927 she first heard the records of Louis Armstrong and she cited his “West End Blues” as an influence, saying the scat vocal duet with the clarinet was her favorite part. You can hear Louis Armstrong performing ‘West End Blues’ for her and dedicating ‘Kiss to Build a Dream On’ to her in a 1952 KCBS San Francisco broadcast in one of the videos on this page. Billie Holiday is your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week.

Henry Hall was an English pianist, composer and the director of the BBC Dance Orchestra from 1932-37. He’s your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week. Listen…

Hans Rehmstedt was a 1930s-40s German swing band leader and violinist. He is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. He recorded some moody atmospheric sides in the late 30s- early 40s, some of which you’ll hear on this week’s Phantom Dancer Listen here…

Jack Hylton was an English pianist, composer, band leader and impresario. Called the “British King of Jazz” and “The Ambassador of British Dance Music” because of his worldwide popularity, unusually large ensembles and polished arrangements. After 1940 he became a successful theatrical businessman. He’s your Phantom Dancer feature artist…

George Olsen, was a U.S musician and bandleader. He was most popular in the years 1924-35, beginning with his recording of ‘The Hottest Man in Town’ becoming a hit. He’s your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week. Listen…

Happy New Year! Enjoy this New Year’s mix of swing and jazz from 1930s-50s New Year Radio. And marvel at how Wynn the Astrologer on his live-to-air 1936 radio predictions got 1937 so wrong. Listen…

Christmas music from 1930s-60s Christmas radio on this week’s Phantom Dancer. Hear Kid Ory, Charlie Parker, Patti Page and more. Listen…

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. Listen…

“We recently booked the Greg Poppleton Band for our Hills Turns 100 Celebration at Hills Marketplace, Terrey Hills. A frequently heard comment at the end of the day was “great day….and the music was the best part!” Yes, Greg and his very talented band, and I mean VERY talented band, entertained and got people dancing […]

1940 Shortwave radio by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from New York to Latin America is your Phantom Dancer Feature this week. And below are some relevant paragraphs on shortwave broadcasting taken from a 1942 article in ‘RCA Review’.

Get your Free Tickets now to see Greg Poppleton sing the songs of the 1920s and 1930s in a one hour concert, Wednesday 10 April 1:30-2:30pm, Bondi Pavilion

Sam ‘The Man’ Taylor, influential 1940s jump and 1950s rock tenor saxophonist, is this week’s Phantom Dancer non-stop swing jazz feature artist. You’ll hear him from two 1956 Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance Party broadcasts on this week’s mix.

Tune in, tomorrow, Thursday 23 November, to enjoy Greg Poppleton and his Broadcasters sing and play the songs of the 1920s for the 100th Anniversary of Radio in Australia.

Harold ‘Scrappy’ Lambert was not a scrapper nor scrappy. He was a US dance band singer who recorded over 1,500 records between 1926 – 1931 as well as radio transcriptions and musical movie shorts.  He is your Phantom Dancer Feature Artist this week. Tune in…

Ginny Simms was a US singer, radio star and Hollywood actress. She sang with big bands, Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Jo Stafford. As an MGM and Universal film actress she appeared in 11 movies from 1939 to 1951. Ginny Simms is your Phantom Dancer Feature artist this week. Tune in…

Greg Poppleton with his 1930s Trio play at the launch of the Merrigong Theatre 2024 season, Wollongong, Tuesday night 28 November

Del Courtney was a pianist, bandleader, actor and composer whose career spanned 70 years. He played for four US presidents. He is your Phantom Dancer Feature artist this week. LISTEN here…

Red Nichols was a cornetist, songwriter and band leader.
He is this week’s Phantom Dancer Feature artist.
The Phantom Dancer is your weekly non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week.
LISTEN here…

Jack Fina was a pianist, songwriter (“Bumble Boogie”), composer and conductor. He is this week’s Phantom Dancer Feature artist.

Horace Heidt produced some of the best-known tunes of the Big Band Era including the 1941 international hit, The Hut-Sut Song. He is this week’s Phantom Dancer Feature artist.

W Lee O’Daniel was a Western Swing band leader, singer and composer, politician and this week’s Phantom Dancer Feature Artist. Also from 1944 on this PD, you’ll also hear beatnik word jazz man Ken Nordine as a CBS radio announcer in Chicago. Tune in…

The Revelers were an American quintet (four close harmony singers and a pianist) popular in the late 1920s and early 1930s. They made the first known record of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” in 1923 and are this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist…

Greg Poppleton returns by popular demand to the highlight of the Blue Mountains 1920s Festival – the Great Art Deco Ball – celebrating 14 years in 2024.

The Carrington Hotel, known for its Timeless Elegance, is holding the famous Art Deco Ball on Saturday 3th February 2024.

If you are looking for a night out with dinner, dancing and a dazzling Hollywood entertainment experience ‘1920’s style’ then you don’t want to miss the annual Great Art Deco Ball. Book now

Martin Denny was the Father of Exotica and is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. He was an American pianist, percussionist, composer and arranger writing and playing Lounge Music that  celebrated Tiki Culture. Read his story, see show play list here…

2SER Radiothon is raising money for community radio 2SER. Today is your last chance to subscribe during The Phantom Dancer. Call 02 9514 9500 or vist https://www.2ser.com to support community radio.

Hills Marketplace Terrey Hills celebrates its 100th Anniversary with jazz, Sun 26 November. The Greg Poppleton 1920s Band will be there 1-3pm

2SER Radiothon runs from Friday September 8. The Phantom Dancer will be live with a fresh mix for you on both Tuesdays and Saturdays during Radiothon. Subscribe to 2SER now https://2ser.com/supporterform/

2SER is having its radiothon. It’s your chance to win some great prizes when you subscribe or renew your subscription during The Phantom Dancer.

SUBSCRIBE NOW!! 

The Phantom Dancer is your weekly non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week.

2SER Radiothon runs from Friday September 8. The Phantom Dancer will be live with a fresh mix for you on both Tuesdays and Saturdays during Radiothon. Subscribe to 2SER now https://2ser.com/supporterform/

Greg Poppleton’s 1920s-30s band and back, Friday 24 November, Lower Sydney Town Hall, for the 2023 City of Sydney Seniors’ Christmas Concert.

Lee Wiley was a Cherokee jazz singer who broadcast on radio and recorded albums in the 1930s-50s. She is your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week. Choon in…

Adolf Steimel was a German dance band leader, composer, organist and pianist. He is known for Wir machen Musik (1942), Herr Sanders lebt gefährlich (1944) and Einmaleins der Ehe (1949).
Hear him on this week’s Phantom Dancer…

Dave Lambert was an American jazz lyricist, singer, and an originator of vocalese. He was best known as a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Lambert spent a lifetime experimenting with the human voice and expanding the possibilities of its use within jazz.

Buddy Stewart (born Albert James Byrne Jr.) was an American jazz singer.

Both Lambert and Stewart were killed in car crashes (1966 & 1950 respectively)
Hear them on this week’s Phantom Dancer…

Artie Shaw and his Gramercy Five was a jazz combo led by bandleader ‘King of the Clarinet’, swing band leader and composer, Artie Shaw. It’s this week’s Phantom Dancer feature. The Gramercy Five had different line-ups when it ran between 1940 and 1954. After his Australian tour in 1954, Shaw gave up clarinet and the Gramercy Five, saying he’d done all he could with it. Hear the 5 on this week’s Phantom Dancer…

The Valtonen Sisters, who also recorded under the name Harmony Sisters, is your Phantom Dancer feature artist, The sisters, Vera, Maire and Raija were Karelians whose family moved to Finland after the 1917 Russian Revolution. They sang in ten languages in a career spanning 1934-54. Hear them on this week’s Phantom Dancer…

It’s All in the Game is a hit pop song and this week’s Phantom Dancer feature. It’s the only pop song written by a US Vice President and Nobel Prize laureate. His name is Charles G Dawes and he ended up hating the song. Hear it on this week’s Phantom Dancer…

Guy Lombardo Canadian and American bandleader of the ‘sweetest music this side of heaven’, violinist, hydroplane racer and leader of Louis Armstrong’s favourite orchestra is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. Hear him on this week’s Phantom Dancer…