News

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…

Mary Lou Williams was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded more than one hundred records versions. She wrote and arranged for Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and she was a mentor and teacher to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, and Dizzy Gillespie. Hear her on this week’s Phantom Dancer…

Talking Women Jazz instrumentalists from the 1930s-50s with Simon Marnie on Sonic Journey, 11am – 12noon 702 ABC Radio Sydney.

Charlie Christian is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. He was an American swing and jazz guitarist and a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. Hear him live on 1940 radio…

Australian jazz from the 1920s-30s is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature. Listen here for Frank Coughlan, Jimmie Elkins and more…

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…

Australian Jazz 1930s-50s is your Phantom Dancer feature this week. I’ll be giving a talk on jazz in Sydney in the 1930s-50s as part of ‘Send for Nellie’ by playwright Alana Valentine about singer Nellie Small at the State Library of NSW 6-8pm, Thursday 15 June. TIX and More Info + Radio Show here

Arnošt Kavka is your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week. He was a Czech swing singer and composer who you’ll hear with Karel Vlach’s Orchestra and the Allan Sisters in records made between 1939-44. Listen here…

Your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week is ‘father of the blues’, W C Handy, who you’ll hear speaking on live 1941 radio. Listen here

This week’s Phantom Dancer is a non-stop swing jazz mix from live 1930s-50s radio. Listen here…

PLAYERS IN THE PUB presents JUSTICE by John Galsworthy (Nobel Laureate 1932 and author of The Forsythe Saga)

Join us for an evening celebrating Nellie Small – singer, entertainer and cross-dresser extraordinaire

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…

Stan Getz was an American, jazz tenor saxophonist, known as “The Sound” because of his warm, lyrical tone. Getz played bebop, cool jazz groups and helped popularize bossa nova in the United States with the hit 1964 single “The Girl from Ipanema”. Listen here…

The Sestry Allanovy (Allan Sisters) were a Czech vocal trio formed in 1940. They were together until 1967. They’re this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. Listen here…

Enoch Light swing band leader, violinist, lounge music wizard and recording engineer, inventor of the ‘ping-pong sound’ on 1950s-60s hi-fi records, gatefold albums and distinctive commissioned album art, is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist.. Listen here…

Bud Freeman: bandleader and composer is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. Bud Freeman was one of the first tenor saxophonists in jazz along with Coleman Hawkins. Read his story, watch videos, see playlist and listen to show here…

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.

Paul Douglas, 1930s CBS announcer and later Broadway and Hollywood film star, is this week’s Phantom Dancer swing jazz feature artist. He opens this week’s show. Hear the show, watch him, read his story here.

Bunny Berigan was one of the virtuoso jazz trumpeters of the Swing Era. He also sang. He’s this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. Listen here…

Jack Teagarden was one of the great trombonists of the 1930s-50s and a laid-back jazz singer. He’s 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 to this week’s Phantom Dancer mix (online after 2pm AEST, Tuesday […]

All My Sons by Arthur Miller, with Greg Poppleton as Joe Kellner, a story of greed and cowardice, on stage New Theatre 25 April – 27 May

Greg Poppleton talks about 1930s-composer Raymond Scott on Sonic Jouney with Simon Marnie, ABC radio Sydney

Jean Sablon was the most widely acclaimed male French singer of his generation in the world after Maurice Chavalier. He’s this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist.Listen here…

At Bondi Pavilion, Classic Hits celebrate Make Music Day with Greg Poppleton singing the swing jazz songs of the 1920s and 1930s

Carson Robison was a two-tone whistler, guitarist, banjoist, singer and composer. He recorded the first country record, early rap, and popularised radio via his radio shows. And he is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. Listen here…

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…

Enoch Light swing band leader, violinist, lounge music wizard and recording engineer, inventor of the ‘ping-pong sound’ on 1950s-60s hi-fi records, gatefold albums and distinctive commissioned album art, is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist.. Listen here…

Greg Poppleton returned by popular demand to the Great Art Deco Ball – celebrating 13 years, 4th February 2023 – in the timeless elegance of Katoomba’s wedding cake Carrington Hotel

Chubby Jackson is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist. He was an American jazz double-bassist and band leader. Listen here…

Ernest Hutcheson is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist in a broadcast from 1936. He was an internationally renowned concert pianist born in Australia and was president of Juilliard, the prestigious Arts school in New York City. Listen here…