While the "ensemble" sound of the Swing years seemed to capture the nation's imagination throughout the 1930s and into the '40s, the solo vocalists soon overtook the big bands in both record sales and fan appeal. "Crooners" had been a part of American popular music for some time--Gene Austin had reigned in the mid-'20s, and Rudy Vallee had his day as the Great Depression deepened.
NEW 8:00 PM Start Time!
From Bing to Bobby Sox is one of the 4 OFAM evening concerts held at The Shedd’s Jaqua Concert Hall that begin at 8:00 pm rather than our usual 7:30 pm and run 1 hour 15 min without intermission.
We’ve designed these slightly-shorter, later-starting "Summer Shorts", as we’re calling them, so our patrons can enjoy a more leisurely dinner before coming to a refreshingly entertaining evening of fine music!
But then an aw-shucks boy named Bing Crosby nonchalantly took the stage--with, importantly, a masterful use of microphone--and pretty much dominated it with his seemingly untrained, comfortable and intimate style for the next 20 years. By the early '40s his successor was on the scene--a wisp of a lad who idolized Crosby, Frank Sinatra mastered Crosby's intimate approach, captured the hearts of his generation of young women, now called "bobby soxers", and became the new superstar.
Ken and company are joined by Bill Hulings, Michael Stone, Shirley Andress and Julie Alsin in an evening recalling those Halcyon years. Look for crooner classics like "Prisoner Of Love", "I Surrender Dear", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", "All The Things You Are" and more.
| | Please(1932)
- introduced in The Big Broadcast
instrumental | L. Robin (w), R. Rainger (m) |
| | Prisoner Of Love(1931) | L. Robin (w), C. Gaskill/R. Columbo (m) |
| | I Got Rhythm(1930)
- introduced in Girl Crazy
Shirley | I. Gershwin (w), G. Gershwin (m) |
| | Dancing In The Dark(1931)
- introduced in The Band Wagon
Michael | H. Dietz (w), A. Schwartz (m) |
| | Just One More Chance(1931)
Bill | S. Coslow (w), A. Johnston (m) |
| | In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town(1932)
- introduced in The Crooner | J. Young (w), L. Little/J. Siras (m) |
| | How Deep Is The Ocean?(1932)
Julie | I. Berlin (w/m) |
| | I Surrender Dear(1931)
Bill | G. Clifford/H. Barris (m) |
| | Everything I Have Is Yours(1933)
- introduced in Dancing Lady
Michael | H. Adamson (w), B. Lane (m) |
| | I Get A Kick Out Of You(1934)
- introduced in Anything Goes
Shirley | C. Porter (w/m) |
| | Smoke Gets In Your Eyes(1933)
- introduced in Roberta
Bill | O. Harbach (w), J. Kern (m) |
| | It's A Sin To Tell A Lie(1936)
Michael | B. Mayhew (w/m) |
| | Goody-Goody (1936)
Shirley | J. Mercer (w), M. Malneck (m) |
| | Bei Mir Bist Du Schon(1937)
- introduced in Love Honor And Behave
Julie | S. Cahn/S. Chaplin (w), S. Secunda (m) |
| | I'll Never Smile Again(1940)
Michael | R. Lowe (w/m) |
| | All Or Nothing At All (1940)
Bill | J. Lawrence (w), A. Altman (m) |
| | All The Things You Are(1939)
- introduced in Very Warm For May
instrumental | O. Hammerstein II (w), J. Kern (m) |
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| Featured composers, lyricists, creators |
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Harold Adamson Arthur Altman Harry Barris Irving Berlin Sammy Cahn Saul Chaplin Gordon Clifford Russ Columbo Sam Coslow Howard Dietz Clarence Gaskill George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Oscar Hammerstein II Otto Harbach Arthur Johnston Jerome Kern Burton Lane Jack Lawrence Little Jack Little Ruth Lowe Matty Malneck Billy Mayhew Johnny MercerCole PorterRalph Rainger Leo Robin Arthur Schwartz Sholom Secunda John Siras Joe Young |