Guy and his band use to play at The Beford Grove in Bedford NH every year 1st weekend in November, my folks loved his music , loved to Dance to it also,
Mother { born 1910 } would spend Her summer's with Her Aunt Ginny , [ Her Mother's Sister ] in Toronto. Ginny owned a Boarding House next to To. University. Mother helped with running the place for many years. She & Her cousin Raymond, Ginny's only Son would go down to the Toronto EX. when Guy Lombardo was playing. They would dance ALL night. Mother often spoke of this time as a "Magical Time, " in Her life. P.S. -Raymond was on training Maneuvers during WW2 , when He Drowned in the Rideau Canal. Huge loss to ALL.
Carmen was responsible for that mellow sax sound they had...but as proved here, they could really swing it when the time came! Indeed a great band, one of the most versatile ever.
Would you not just LOVE to sing with these musicians Lloyd. How fantastic that must have been. Thanks for posting my friend. Smiles stars and hugs..Jan (and Susan) ♥
Darktown Strutters Ball, Cliff Grass.I am wearing out this utube selection. Thank goodness the old TV shows are playing in Florida again and I managed to DVR some of Dad's solos. A lot of his dixieland numbers are there also, including one where Guy asks him about his clarinet and he says it belonged to Benny Goodman. Sad we don't have any video of "Do it", but I thought "Crazy" and "Norman" and others were done on some New Years Eve Show post 1960.
Liz - really enjoyed your Dad and all the Royal Canadians. A few years ago the local PBS station had a 1/2hr program of the Guy Lombardo band, looks like this is from that series. I believe the recordings were made at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC and from about 1952 or 1953. I also taped a few of those shows.
Ctd Pt 2.... To all posters, thank goodness for the recorded work of all our favourite artists,for the enjoyment of all generations,past,present and future.
@Crockerish Yes, he passed away in 1993-1994. He was from Indiana. Besides making vocals with the GL band, he also played sax and clarinet with the band. He stayed with the band 30yers+.
Other great vocals by Cliff Grass I have found: "Anything Goes" and "I Got Rhythm". (from a Guy Lombardo six-record pack released by Readers' Digest several years ago).
Closing my eyes in Aus,going through my collection in my head, i should have mentioned also "Ain't She Sweet", and the clever recital on "Some Little Bug Is Gonna/Going To Find You", a song not many would associate with Lombardo "Folsom Prison Blues", and "Stagger Lee". When i think of one of your choices Liz, the excellent rendition of "Crazy", i also think of "Norman",which i have warmed to,after only knowing the Sue Thompson hit version for a large chunk of my 56 years...end Pt 1....
as I said elsewhere on CZcams, I'm sure that Cliff Grass has a strong influence on the light change in Lombardo's music from the late 50's on. From circa 1958, Lombardo albums are, in general, more swingy, more Jazz and Dixieland influenced and have more rhythm. The album "The Lively Guy", from which DST is taken, is one the best Lombardo albums ever (my opinion).
My Dad, the vocalist, would have found it hilarious that we would be able to sit at a computer and see this recording over and over. He liked that song. Now, if anyone finds them doing "The Chicken Song", don't post it. That one he hated.
lizgrass00 I love the chicken song! That one is one of my favorites! I’m about to be 21 and I grew up watching Guy Lombardo on PBS from 1998-2004. And then again in 2009-2011, the last time my local PBS station aired these reruns. I wished PBS would show all of this again, this is great music!!
Simple reason: money. Dad made sure he got paid for any vocals on tv/radio/records.,,going to the union if he didn't get paid. And yes, playing, putting down the horn and running to the mike were difficult, but it wouldn't stop Guy from calling for it.
other great vocals by Cliff Grass with the Lombardo Band: "Walkin' My Baby Back Home", "Work Song", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans", "Nobody", " A Little Bit Of Dixieland", "Sweet Georgia Brown", the hilarious "Lay Something On The Bar Besides Your Elbows", etc...
Anyone keeping track ....who from the band of the 1970's is still alive? There was one young kid who joined when he was only 17 - can't remember his name, only that he got carded going in to play a gig one night.
Do you know Liz whether your Dad was the only member of the Band who had such a deal,as stated? 30 year career with the one organisation with a hectic routine and demand for a family man, must mean he was happy being with the RC's. You must have so much love,admiration and appreciation for your upbringing by your Mom and Dad. P.S...Excellent additions by all with naming more of Cliff's terrific vocals. Thank you.
Cliff Grass did less vocal solos than the others it seems,me thinks more demand for his instrumental work made it difficult to do both!! Loved Cliff's vocalising on "My Extraordinary Gal"/"My Honey's Lovin' Arms"/"My Hearts In The Ring"/"When My Sugar Walks Down The Street"/ and "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You"...If people don't agree,i quote words from "The Chicken Song" (sorry Liz !) " I ain't gonna take it settin' down..." Regards Noel.
This was a song my dad always sang. He passed away 16 years ago today I got the call at 3:40 am. Miss you dad.
Cliff Grass, along with the great Kenny Gardner really gave the Royal Canadians unique and instantly recognizable vocals.
My dad just passed away February 24th and he loved this song. I remember him playing this on the piano all the time. Be at peace dad and I love you.
This is the first song I ever played on the bandstand with a dance band. God Bless you and your Dad.
Yeah, ol' "Guy Lumbago" could really swing it when he wanted to. THE most successful dance band in record industry history...that alone says a lot.
Guy and his band use to play at The Beford Grove in Bedford NH every year 1st weekend in November, my folks loved his music , loved to Dance to it also,
Mother { born 1910 } would spend Her summer's with Her Aunt Ginny , [ Her Mother's Sister ] in Toronto. Ginny owned a Boarding House next to To. University. Mother helped with running the place for many years. She & Her cousin Raymond, Ginny's only Son would go down to the Toronto EX. when Guy Lombardo was playing. They would dance ALL night. Mother often spoke of this time as a "Magical Time, " in Her life. P.S. -Raymond was on training Maneuvers during WW2 , when He Drowned in the Rideau Canal. Huge loss to ALL.
Some of us (and you know who you are) hear this and automatically think, "Anna Maria Alberghetti-ng in a taxi, honey..."
Carmen Lombardo,Cliff Grass, Derf Higman and Victor Lombardo were a great reed section. Loved this bunch of guys.
Carmen was responsible for that mellow sax sound they had...but as proved here, they could really swing it when the time came! Indeed a great band, one of the most versatile ever.
They were the best section by far
My Great-Grandma used to sing this. Man I miss her. :(
Would you not just LOVE to sing with these musicians Lloyd. How fantastic that must have been. Thanks for posting my friend. Smiles stars and hugs..Jan (and Susan) ♥
Darktown Strutters Ball, Cliff Grass.I am wearing out this utube selection. Thank goodness the old TV shows are playing in Florida again and I managed to DVR some of Dad's solos. A lot of his dixieland numbers are there also, including one where Guy asks him about his clarinet and he says it belonged to Benny Goodman. Sad we don't have any video of "Do it", but I thought "Crazy" and "Norman" and others were done on some New Years Eve Show post 1960.
Liz - really enjoyed your Dad and all the Royal Canadians. A few years ago the local PBS station had a 1/2hr program of the Guy Lombardo band, looks like this is from that series. I believe the recordings were made at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC and from about 1952 or 1953. I also taped a few of those shows.
Fabulous!
My folks danced to Guy when they came to Bedford NH every year,
Ctd Pt 2....
To all posters, thank goodness for the recorded work of all our favourite artists,for the enjoyment of all generations,past,present and future.
this is simply a happy sounding song by all.
@Crockerish Yes, he passed away in 1993-1994. He was from Indiana. Besides making vocals with the GL band, he also played sax and clarinet with the band. He stayed with the band 30yers+.
Cliff Grass ftw:)
another great Cliff Grass vocal we all forgot to mention: "Oh look-a-there ain't she Pretty". (album "The Lively Guy")
best version of the best song ever!!!!
another great vocal by Cliff Grass: "No More", recorded in the mid-50's. In this song, he formed a vocal duo with Bill Flanagan.
Other great vocals by Cliff Grass I have found: "Anything Goes" and "I Got Rhythm". (from a Guy Lombardo six-record pack released by Readers' Digest several years ago).
Thanks for this gem!
Cliff Grass has made great vocals, one of the best being"Do It Yourself", from the Gl album "Bells Are Ringing"
Closing my eyes in Aus,going through my collection in my head, i should have mentioned also "Ain't She Sweet", and the clever recital on "Some Little Bug Is Gonna/Going To Find You", a song not many would associate with Lombardo "Folsom Prison Blues", and "Stagger Lee".
When i think of one of your choices Liz, the excellent rendition of "Crazy", i also think of "Norman",which i have warmed to,after only knowing the Sue Thompson hit version for a large chunk of my 56 years...end Pt 1....
as I said elsewhere on CZcams, I'm sure that Cliff Grass has a strong influence on the light change in Lombardo's music from the late 50's on. From circa 1958, Lombardo albums are, in general, more swingy, more Jazz and Dixieland influenced and have more rhythm. The album "The Lively Guy", from which DST is taken, is one the best Lombardo albums ever (my opinion).
I always liked it when the dance bands had a recording bass - tuba. It really adds depth to the sound. Thanks for the post.
My Dad, the vocalist, would have found it hilarious that we would be able to sit at a computer and see this recording over and over. He liked that song. Now, if anyone finds them doing "The Chicken Song", don't post it. That one he hated.
lizgrass00 I love the chicken song! That one is one of my favorites! I’m about to be 21 and I grew up watching Guy Lombardo on PBS from 1998-2004. And then again in 2009-2011, the last time my local PBS station aired these reruns. I wished PBS would show all of this again, this is great music!!
Excellent music. Ah, the 1930s...
Actually, this was filmed in 1950.
Simple reason: money. Dad made sure he got paid for any vocals on tv/radio/records.,,going to the union if he didn't get paid. And yes, playing, putting down the horn and running to the mike were difficult, but it wouldn't stop Guy from calling for it.
other great vocals by Cliff Grass with the Lombardo Band: "Walkin' My Baby Back Home", "Work Song", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans", "Nobody", " A Little Bit Of Dixieland", "Sweet Georgia Brown", the hilarious "Lay Something On The Bar Besides Your Elbows", etc...
monteleone1010 left out The Chicken Song.
I love this song
Anyone keeping track ....who from the band of the 1970's is still alive? There was one young kid who joined when he was only 17 - can't remember his name, only that he got carded going in to play a gig one night.
Do you know Liz whether your Dad was the only member of the Band who had such a deal,as stated? 30 year career with the one organisation with a hectic routine and demand for a family man, must mean he was happy being with the RC's. You must have so much love,admiration and appreciation for your upbringing by your Mom and Dad.
P.S...Excellent additions by all with naming more of Cliff's terrific vocals. Thank you.
The television show M*A*S*H brought me here...
Who said thet band could not ssswing???
Cliff Grass did less vocal solos than the others it seems,me thinks more demand for his instrumental work made it difficult to do both!! Loved Cliff's vocalising on "My Extraordinary Gal"/"My Honey's Lovin' Arms"/"My Hearts In The Ring"/"When My Sugar Walks Down The Street"/ and "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You"...If people don't agree,i quote words from "The Chicken Song" (sorry Liz !) " I ain't gonna take it settin' down..."
Regards Noel.
I wonder what happened to Cliff,he had quite a different voice,he has to be gone?
Do it Yourself, that was a great one all right. My top two are that and his version of Crazy (all due respect to Patsy Cline).
Do you have the copyright for this video and if so, would it be possible for me to receive permission to use a portion of it?
No stereo here.....
Wabash Cannon Ball...Take Me Along....Step To The Rear....