Original air date - Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 6th Oct 2020

Big Maybelle, r'n'b singer, is this week's Phantom Dancer feature artist. You'll hear her from a 1956 Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party radio show. You'll also hear from the bands she sang with before her solo singing career: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Christine Chatman and Tiny Bradshaw. Greg Poppleton brings you The Phantom Dancer, your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV. On-air every week since 1985. Hear The Phantom Dancer online from 12:04pm AEST Tuesday 6 October at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/ where you can also hear two years of archived shows. The finyl hour is vinyl.

BIG MAYBELLE

Mabel Louise Smith, stage name Big Maybelle, was an American R&B singer. She sang gospel as a child. In her teens she switched to rhythm and blues. She began her professional career with Dave Clark's Memphis Band in 1936, and also toured with the all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm. She then joined Christine Chatman's Orchestra with which she made her first recordings with Chatman in 1944. She recorded with Tiny Bradshaw's Orchestra from 1947 to 1950. Her debut solo recordings, recorded as Mabel Smith, were for King Records in 1947. She was accompanied by Oran "Hot Lips" Page but had little commercial success.

OKEH

Okeh Records signed her up in 1952. Okeh producer Fred Mendelsohn gave her the stage name 'Big Maybelle' because of her loud yet well-toned voice. Her first recording for Okeh, "Gabbin' Blues", which you'll hear on this week's Phantom Dancer, was hit number 3 on the Billboard R&B chart, and was followed up by "Way Back Home" and "My Country Man" in 1953. In 1955, she recorded the song "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On", which you'll also hear on this week's Phantom Dancer, produced by up-and-coming producer Quincy Jones. Jerry Lee Lewis credited Smith's record as being the inspiration for his cover.

SAVOY

Savoy Records signed Big Maybelle in 1955. Her cover of "Candy" (1956) was one of her biggest sellers. She appeared on stage at the Apollo Theater in New York City in 1957, and at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival where she sang "All Night Long/I Ain't Mad at You", (video of the week). She left savoy in 1959 and recorded for a few other labels in the 1960s, making her last hit single in 1967.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Big Maybelle at Newport Jazz Festival with jazz band in 1958. Oh, what a difference a jazz band makes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcbHok0GhTQ Make sure you come back to this blog, Greg Poppleton's Radio Lounge, every Tuesday, for the newest Phantom Dancer play list and Video of the Week!

6 OCTOBER PLAY LIST

Play List - The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #433
107.3 2SER Tuesday 6 October 2020 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 - 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) and Saturdays 5 - 5:55pm National Program: 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Sunday 10 - 11pm 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 - 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 - 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 - 4am 2SEA Eden Monday 3 - 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 - 4pm 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 - 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 - 7pm 7MID Oatlands Tuesday 8 - 9pm 2MCE Bathurst / Orange / Central West NSW Wednesday 9 - 10am 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 - 1pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 - 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 - 6am 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Sunday 5 - 6am
Set 1	Dorsey Brothers
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (theme) + Sentimental Baby	Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (voc) Lynn Roberts	'All-Star Parade of Bands' Magnolia Room Hotel Claridge WMC NBC Memphis 19 Jun 1953
When the Saints Come Marching Home	Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (voc) Johnny Ray	'Stage Show' WCBS TV CBS NY 1 Jan 1955
Capital Idea + Close	Dorsey Brothers Orchestra	'All-Star Parade of Bands' Magnolia Room Hotel Claridge WMC NBC Memphis 19 Jun 1953
Set 2	Woodchoppers' Ball
Woodchoppers' Ball	Woody Herman's First Herd	'Old Gold Show' WABC CBS NY 2 Aug 1944
Blue Flame (theme) + Woodchoppers' Ball	Woody Herman's Third Herd	Starlite Roof Edgewater Hotel Madison, WI, CBS 12 Jul 1950
Woodchoppers' Ball	Woody Herman's First Herd	Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 17 Oct 1944
Set 3	Big Maybelle Pre-Solo Bands
The Boogie-Woogie Girl	Christine Chatman Orchestra (voc) Big Maybelle (as Mabel Smith)	Comm Rec 6 Apr 1944
One O'Clock Jump	International Sweethearts of Rhythm + AFRS Orchestra (36 piece band)	'Jubilee' AFRS Hollywood Feb 1945
Ready, Set, Jump + Close	Tiny Bradshaw Orchestra	'Jubilee' AFRS Hollywood 21 Aug 1944
Set 4	Big Maybelle
Gabbin' Blues	Big Maybelle (voc) Sam 'The Man' Taylor	Comm Rec 8 Oct 1952
Ring Ding Dilly + Candy	Big Maybelle (voc) Sam 'The Man' Taylor	'Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party' WCBS CBS NY 4 Sep 1956
Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On	Big Maybelle (voc) arranged and conducted by Quincy Jones	Comm Rec 21 Mar 1956
Set 5	A Date With The Duke
Chelsea Bridge	Duke Ellington Orchestra	'A Date with the Duke' Apollo Theatre WJZ ABC NY 30 Jun 1945
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree	Duke Ellington Orchestra	'A Date with the Duke' Regal Theatre WENR ABC Chicago 26 May 1945
Blue Bells of Harlem	Duke Ellington Orchestra	'A Date with the Duke' Radio City WJZ ABC NY 7 Jul 1945
Ring Dem Bells + Im Beginning to See the Light	Duke Ellington Orchestra	'A Date with the Duke' 400 Restaurant WJZ ABC NY 28 Apr 1945
Set 6	1930s Benny Goodman Quartets
Shine	Benny Goodman Quartet	'Camel Caravan' KNX CBS LA 10 Aug 1937
I Found a New Baby	Benny Goodman Quartet	'Camel Caravan' State Theatre WDRC CBS Hartford Conn. 7 Feb 1939
Liza	Benny Goodman Quartet	'Camel Caravan' KNX CBS LA 17 Aug 1937
Deep Purple	Benny Goodman Quartet	'Camel Caravan' Earle Theatre WCAU  CBS Phildelphia 14 Feb 1939
Set 7	MJB Demi-Tasse Revues
The Sun's in my Heart	Jimmy Grier Orchestra (voc) The 3 Cheers	'Cocoanut Grove' Radio Transcription TRANSCO LA 1932
Me	Gus Arnheim Orchestra (voc) Dave Marshall and Loyce Whiteman	'Cocoanut Grove' Radio Transcription TRANSCO LA 1931
When We're Alone	Jimmy Grier Orchestra (voc) Loyce Whiteman and Donald novis	'Cocoanut Grove' Radio Transcription TRANSCO LA 1932
Sing a Little Jingle	Gus Arnheim Orchestra (voc) Jack Smith	'Cocoanut Grove' Radio Transcription TRANSCO LA 1931
Set 8	Count Basie & Billy Eckstine
Blue 'n' Boogie (theme) + Airmail Special	Billy Eckstine Orchestra	'Jubilee' AFRS Hollywood Mar 1945
How High the Moon + Hob Nail Boogie	Count Basie Orchestra	Birdland WNBC NBC NY 31 Aug 1952
Mr Chips	Billy Eckstine Orchestra	'Jubilee' AFRS Hollywood Mar 1945
Paradise Squat + Lullaby of Birdland (theme)	Count Basie Orchestra	'Stars in Jazz' Birdland WNBC NBC NY 14 Jan 1953