During his lifetime, he led some of the most exciting big bands of the twentieth century. Woody herman began performing as a child, singing in vaudeville. As a child he worked as a singer and tapdancer in vaudeville, then started to play the clarinet and saxophone by age 12. One of the last of the great swing era bandleaders, woody herman was a frequent guest over the years at george weins newport jazz festival. This photograph originates from a press photo archive. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. It was a gradual process, but by the end of 1944, woody herman had. Any list of the years ten or even five most admirable bigband albums that doesnt include live in london should be greeted with a healthy dose of skepticism. Soon after, he began playing the saxophone and later the clarinet. Lyrics to ah, your fathers mustache by woody herman.
Flip phillips, and bill harris by the mid1940s, under the name hermans herd. Herman had recorded an advanced dizzy gillespie arrangement down under the year before, and during 1943, herman s band became influenced by duke ellington. Herman became known in the late 1930s and was active until his death in 1987. His father otto was a big influence in his early years of childhood, because otto was in love with show business. Woody herman music listen free on jango pictures, videos.
It combined the beautiful sound of the leader on clarinet, alto sax, and vocals with the innumerable talents of the group members, both playing and arranging. He picked up early experience playing with the big bands of tom gerun, harry sosnik, and gus arnheim, and then in 1934, he joined the isham jones orchestra. Woodrow charles herman may 16, 19 october 29, 1987 was an american jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Herman was a child prodigy who sang and danced in vaudeville at age six. Woody herman s orchestra plays five tunes, and guest performers sing and dance. The complete woody herman decca, mars and mgm sessions 19431954 may 16, 2019. Blue prelude woodchoppers ball faithful forever vocal. Woody herman, byname of woodrow charles herman, born may 16, 19, milwaukee, wisconsin, u. Woody herman joined the tom gerun band and his first recorded vocals.
Find the best clips, watch programmes, catch up on the news, and read the latest woody herman and his. In australia in the 1950s, at least, it was a very popular recording, probably more so than woodchoppers ball. These songs were chosen and ranked based on their initial and lasting popularity, and on their impact on the overall scope of musical history. With woody herman and his orchestra, lee wiley, hal abbott, honey abbott.
Woodrow charles herman may 16, 19 october 29, 1987, better known as woody herman, was an american jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Other than a previously unreleased version of blues on parade from 1939, the music is all from february september 1940. First session, nov 1986 clef mg c745, jazz, the utmost. This cd also has some of the lesser known works of woody herman. In 1934, he joined isham jones, and when joness group disbanded in 1936 herman used its leading sidemen as the nucleus for his own orchestra. I cant get offa my horse, jingle bells polka sung by the modernaires. Woody herman, sal nistico, jake hanna, nat pierce, bill chase woody herman 1963 swinginest big band ever 25th yearhis greatest music. Leading various groups called the herd, herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and 40s bandleaders. The drummers of woody herman modern drummer magazine.
Woody herman, american jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader, and. Improvisational promotions marketing jazz, classical and latin music. Woody herman and his orchestra old gold rehearsals 1944, an album by woody herman on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Woody herman biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Apr 09, 2020 woody herman after early experience in chicago with the bands led by tom gerun and harry sosnik, woody herman toured with gus arnheim. He was not only a jazz clarinetist and a saxophonist, but at the same time, he was a singer as well. Woody herman woody herman sings songs for hip lovers 2 lp.
The history of the following band evolution can be structured in the following way. Woody herman listen to free radio stations accuradio. His parents were otto and myrtle bartoszewicz herman. The fifth in the classics woody herman series has overall the strongest jazz set for the band up to that point. Herman and the band do carolina in the morning, you must have been a beautiful baby, and doctor jazz. Woody herman 1 bandleader, saxophonist, clarinetist for the record 2 the evolution of the herd 3 kept his personality in the background 4 difficult times in the 1960s and 1970s 5 selected discography 6 sources 7 no other bandleader in the history of jazz had the staying power of woo. Jim rupp observed, you really never know what woodys going to call. Woodrow charles herman may 16, 19 october 29, 1987, known as woody herman, was an american jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Herman is a swinging, friendly singer heard doing such timetested standards as the humorous makin whoopee, a more upbeat than typical willow weep for me, and i wont dance. Woody herman plays clarinet with his orchestra circa 1940s. The bbc artist page for woody herman and his orchestra.
The complete woody herman decca, mars and mgm sessions 19431954 presents woody on seven cds over a remarkable span of his development. Woody herman was renowned for being the leader of one of the most popular bands that specialized in jazz by the name of thundering herds. Woody herman left his clarinet and alto sax behind for this all vocal release. Woody herman and his orchestra old gold rehearsals 1944 by. Woody herman and his orchestra discography discogs. Northwest passage by woody herman, chubby jackson, ralph burns. During the 1940s hermans band, then known as hermans herd, was noted for its. Early life and career herman was born woodrow charles thomas herman in milwaukee, wisconsin on may 16, 19. From the 1940s, the expression the herd was used in variable context, which was always a synonym for woody hermans orchestra. It could be the recording made in nyc february 1941. This band recorded for the decca label, at first serving as a cover band, doing songs by other decca artists. Hermans band that plays the blues had already dabbled in the emerging progressive jazz of the 1940s by. Woodrow charles herman may 16, 19 october 29, 1987 was an american jazz clarinetist.
It gained immense popularity over the decades when it was further exposed by woody herman for his orchestra as the golden wedding 1940. The early years 18901950, woodchoppers ball big wig in the wig wam, and the thundering herds 19451947. Woody herman and his orchestra musician, performing arts. The drum solo by frankie carlson was hugely influential and popularly attributed to gene krupa. Woody herman, american jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader, and singer who was best known as the front man for a succession of bands he dubbed herds. If you watch turner classic movies enough then you know that various. When the latter decided to retire in 1936, herman was the core of the hot fraction of the disbanded orchestra. Woody herman, jazz musician from the usa, july 1979. A blues player from his heart may 16, 20 he was a soulful reedman, an amazing talent scout for decades and a bandleader of one of the countrys most popular acts. Woody herman woody herman gene krupa and orchestras 1941 ccd064 view larger. Legendary clarinetist, composer at the woodchoppers ball, singer and bandleader the thundering herds, educated at marquette university. The woody herman orchestra woodchoppers ball paste.
Woody herman society, keep the blue flame infinitely burning. Woody herman and his big band play on a stage in front of a theater audience. Yearly song lists go by earliest release date single, album, or country of first release. He started playing saxophone when he was 11, and four years later he was a professional musician. The woody herman band was one of the most popular groups in the world during the 1940s. Woody herman the road father woodrow charles woody herman was born may 16, 19 in milwaukee, wisconsin. Together with 8 other musicians of this band, he founded his own orchestra woody herman and his orchestra, which became legendary as a source of jazz talents over decades.
Todays woody herman drummer has to be ready to play just about anything. Woody herman celebrity profile check out the latest woody herman photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. As a child he worked as a singer in vaudeville, then became a professional saxophone player at age 15. In the past decade, a strong demand for the swinging sound of creative jazz orchestras in concert has come back in demand. No mention of the golden wedding by woody herman and his orchestra. The first side herman recorded was laura, the theme song of the 1944 movie of the same. Who is your fathers sports idol or your mothers rockstar.
Woody herman homepage, home of the woody herman society. A lovely rendition of mister meadowlark woody herman and his orchestra 1940 vocal by woody herman enjoy. He always encouraged young talent and more than practically any bandleader from the swing era, kept his repertoire quite modern. Herman reformed the band in 1947, and the distinctive feature of the. For the 1968 edition, he made his usual entrance at. Leading various groups called the herd, herman came to prominence the late 1930s and was active until his death in 1987. A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by johnny hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist, woody herman s greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands. I have heard cds that were made a lot more recent that did not sound half as good as this. Woody herman inherited the isham jones orchestra in new york city in 1936. Four brothers is a jazz standard written by jimmy giuffre in 1947, based on the chord changes of jeepers creepers. The top 10 jewish top 10 jewish jazz musicians and. Woody herman, sal nistico, jake hanna, nat pierce, bill chase. This is a must have album for woody herman fans and an interesting blend of pop culture and hardcore bigband jazz for the rest of you.
Woody hermans first band became known for its orchestrations of the blues, and was sometimes billed as the band that plays the blues. In accordance with the directives of government and health authorities, we have temporarily suspended operations. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. His father had a deep love for show business and this influenced woody herman at an early age. Herman was born in milwaukee, wisconsin, on may 16, 19. One of the powerhouse aggregations to come out of the swing era, the woody herman orchestra was a favorite of dancers and jazz connoisseurs alike for its lively bluesoriented swing fare. Woody herman and his orchestra mister meadowlark 1940.
Herman leads the band, sings, and takes a few clarinet solos. He was a famous big band leader, american jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, and singer. Free customizable online radio with unlimited skips. Esquires 1946 all american jazz band concert january 16, 1946 full album. If a member of the band comes up with a new chart, be it swing, funk, or reggae, herman will try it out on a gig. He was a clarinetist in the orchestras of joey lichter, harry sosnik, gus arnheim, and indiana jones, then formed his own orchestra, appearing in hotels, theatres and ballrooms.
His bands often played music that was experimental for the. Woody herman the swingin herman herd recorded live 1964 full album by jazz time with jarvis x. Sure, much of the woody herman orchestras concert appearance last august at londons premier jazz club, ronnie scotts, is comprised of wellworn herman favorites apple honey, early autumn, northwest. Woody herman simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. He stayed faithful to his orchestra until the end of his life.
1358 575 1200 1552 520 602 1482 1626 775 494 166 1283 33 1474 994 764 558 1146 1184 382 769 976 1332 127 732 839 925 29 583 467 1369 454 740