Yet Another Band Box 336 - Murlee Hart

Hey all! So I was chatting with Eric at the last Rocky Mountain Record Show, who offers me a couple of Band Box studio recordings, credited to Murlee Hart. The first thing I notice is that they show "Band Box #336," which corresponds with Ronnie Kae's 1964 release "Swinging Drums" / "A Flight For Drums." 

I'm only guessing the folks at Band Box had an overstock of Ronnie's labels and reused them for test pressings and acetates, for other artists. You will find that label number on "Kit Polka / Eastlake Waltz" and "Mountain Flower Waltz" / "Too Fat Polka," by the Alpine Polka Dots (acetates) and Marion Price's test pressings, "O Holy Night" and "Musetta's Waltz." 

Back to Murlee Hart...

Born in 1921, in St. Louis, Margaret Murlee Hart came to Denver in 1940, where she earned her master’s degree in education at the University of Denver then a doctorate from the University of Colorado. She became one of the first African-American teachers at a Denver public school. According to her 2015 obituary she also a prolific songwriter, penning more than 500 songs. 

According to the Catalog of Copyright Entries, a few of her songs included "Baby I'm in Love" (1948), "Eastersong" (1948), "I Walked Down by the River" (1949),  "When It Gets Dark the Stars Come Out" (1949) "Velvet Fog" (1949), "Do You Remember" (1953), "How True Are You" (1953), "Song of Christmas" (1953), "Get Thee From Me" (1956), "You're Just in Time" (1956 with Harriet Salter Rice), "What a Drag" (1957), "Dark Blue" (1957).

Unfortunately, it appears only two of her songs were ever recorded. "How True Are You" / "Tried But Not True" feature an uncredited country-sounding male singer and a sticker across the original Ronnie Kae label. As always gang, if you have a clue on who is vocalizing her compositions, let me know.

  "Listen to "Tried But Not True" (video)

 

 

Discover Colorado in 1952 (radio jingles)

 

Hey all. Here are a couple of "Discover Colorado '52" radio jingles, hyping tourism in the Rocky Mountain State. Appears to be a Colorado State University production, along with the Rocky Mountain Radio Council. No clue who the female singer is on these.

"Discover Colorado in '52" (First version - :17)

"Discover Colorado in '52" (second version - :15) 

 In 1952, the Rocky Mountain Radio Council was actively writing and producing regional programming, including "You and the Law" for the Colorado Bar Association that year. Following the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to set aside channels for non-profit education, the Rocky Mountain Radio Council met with Denver Public Schools and the University of Denver to plan a grassroots educational television station, which launched KRMA-TV (Channel 6)—the station known today as Rocky Mountain PBS. The radio council essentially dissolved as its members shifted their energy and assets into pioneering public television.

Presenting the 1949 Pontiac

This next piece is not Colorado, per say, minus the very cool KCSJ Pueblo radio record label. The acetate transcription disc contains a series of commercials for the new 1949 Pontiac. Instead of local personalities, the disc features nationally-known radio newscasters of the day (sorry for the audio quality).

Earl Godwin was dubbed the "Earl of Godwin" by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and he was often referred to as the "Dean of Broadcasters." Godwin would end his broadcasts with the phrase, "God bless you, one and all." He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Walter Kaner broadcast using the name "Tokyo Mose" during and after World War II. After the war, he served as a stand-in host on the Ed Sullivan show. 

Don Goddard worked as a newscaster for New York radio stations WMCA  and WINS. He later worked as a commentator for the early NBC News television documentary-style show, "Watch the World."  A newscaster for ABC News, he was one of their primary announcers to break the news of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November 1963. 

Also included on the disc are newscasters Andre Baruch (later Brooklyn Dodgers announcer) and Ben Grauer (former silent film actor, then newscaster, who later announced New Year's celebrations in Times Square for NBC, from 1939-1979).

The disc doesn't mention any local dealership, but it's assumed they were used for The Colorado Motor Car Company (which originally set up its operations in Pueblo in 1912) which held the town's primary franchise rights for Pontiac. Right after World War II, the company transitioned its hub directly onto Santa Fe Avenue, which would remain a permanent landmark for Pueblo car shoppers. The dealership eventually evolved into the modern-day Wilcoxson GMC located at 902 North Santa Fe Avenue.

FOUND - Jimmy Dorsey Recording (Lakeside Amusement Park - 1950)

Hey all - been a very long time since I have posted. My apologies for the lack of content. Book sales are still active, but I'm now diligently working on the second edition. Thank you to all who have added it to your libraries!

Jimmy Dorsey (famous in his own right and brother of the equally-talented Tommy) appeared in Colorado on more than 50 occasions, performing multi-week residencies in and around Denver, throughout his career, before his death in June 1957.

Up until now, finding any live recordings of his Colorado concerts were believed to be nonexistent. While the shows were broadcast live, radio stations often recorded selections on fragile acetate discs, which lasted about as long as one playback, then usually tossed.  

Was recently offered a stack of Colorado 78rpm recordings and radio transcription discs (which I will soon be posting on here). In the batch was this incredible historic audio - Jimmy Dorsey performing at Lakeside Amusement Park. While the label notes a June 8, 1950 date, this could be a slip of the pen. According to Down Beat magazine, the band was booked at Lakeside from June 26 through July 8, 1950. Whatever the date, finding this upbeat bop jazz live recording (due to length, posted on YouTube) is astonishing. Crazy man, crazy solos on this disc. 

Enjoy a listen to “Muskrat Ramble,” which includes Dorsey (clarinet and alto sax), Charlie Teagarden (trumpet), Ray Bauduc (drums) and Cutty Cutshaw (trombone). The disc cuts off, but you can hear the announcer's entire locale "From the Patio Ballroom at Lakeside, you've been listing to the new sounds, the new look..."