Except for real serious students of the music of the era, Jimmie Lunceford is a forgotten name. But he led a black swing band that held it's own with folks like Benny Goodman and the Dorsey Brothers.
Why they needed that Satan gimmick I'm not sure for this short subject. Just listening to Lunceford's sound is good enough. A vocal by Myra Johnson and a little dancing by the three Brown brothers is an added treat.
Benny Goodman may have caused Lunceford's demise. It was big news when he engaged black singer Ella Fitzgerald for his band. That opened the way for a lot of black musicians to integrate into the name white orchestras. But like the Negro Leagues, all black orchestras declined unless you were Cab Calloway and a showman performer as well.
Lunceford died young in 1947 at the age of 45 under some mysterious circumstances that I won't go into since it seems a story unto itself. Once again we can thank the medium of film for the opportunity to see him as well as hear his recordings.
Why they needed that Satan gimmick I'm not sure for this short subject. Just listening to Lunceford's sound is good enough. A vocal by Myra Johnson and a little dancing by the three Brown brothers is an added treat.
Benny Goodman may have caused Lunceford's demise. It was big news when he engaged black singer Ella Fitzgerald for his band. That opened the way for a lot of black musicians to integrate into the name white orchestras. But like the Negro Leagues, all black orchestras declined unless you were Cab Calloway and a showman performer as well.
Lunceford died young in 1947 at the age of 45 under some mysterious circumstances that I won't go into since it seems a story unto itself. Once again we can thank the medium of film for the opportunity to see him as well as hear his recordings.