Not My Victrola

Uploaded by bsgs98 on Dec 5, 2011

Unfortunate Blues
Words and music by Henry Winston and Fred Ham
Ted Lewis and His Band
Recorded Dec. 4, 1923, Chicago
Columbia 48-D

Personnel:
Walter Kahn, Dave Klein - cornets
Harry Raderman - trombone
Ted Lewis - clarinet, director
Dick Reynolds - piano
Harry Barth - tuba
John Lucas - drums

Ted Lewis was born June 6, 1892 in Circleville Ohio. With his brother Edgar, he played in a local boys' band. Ted organized his own band in 1910. In 1916 he went to New York, worked at the College Arms Cabaret before joining Earl Fuller's Band. During this time he also toured in vaudeville. In 1917 he formed his first professional band. In the mid 1920s he had his own night club and appeared there often. His career spanned more than 60 years. He worked mostly as a band leader, featured on clarinet and vocals, sang in a lazy, half-talking style that earned the title "The High-Hat Tragedian of Song." His famed trademark was the battered top hat and catch-phrase "Is Everybody happy?" During his career he employed many famous jazz musicians including: Harry Raderman, George Brunis, Don Murray, Muggsie Spanier, and Jimmy Dorsey. His recordings in the 1930s often featured outstanding personnel such as Benny Goodman and Fats Waller. In the 1930s and 1940s, he led larger sweet-styled bands, and toured with his own show in the 1950s. His last major engagement was at New York's Latin Quarter in 1965. He appeared on TV several times in his later years. Ted died in New York on August 25, 1971.