Jazz / Instrumental Pop, Ballroom Dance
Alan Kaplan Trombone
Andy Waterman Engineer
Bill Tole Trombone
Bob Efford Sax (Tenor)
Bobby Troup Composer
Charles Loper Trombone
Danny House Sax (Alto)
Don Simpson Arranger
Gregg Field Drums
Harry Warren Composer
Johnny Mercer Composer
Kevin Anthony Sax (Baritone)
Kirk Smith Bass, Bass (Acoustic)
Larry McGuire Trumpet
Madeline Vergari Vocals
Morris Repass Trombone
Patrick Tuzzolino Vocals
Ray Anthony Leader, Trumpet, Producer
Richard A. Whiting Composer
Rick Baptist Trumpet
Roger Neuman Sax (Tenor)
Roger Neumann Sax (Tenor)
Sal Lozano Sax (Alto)
Scotty Morris Composer
Steve Perry Composer
Timothy May Guitar
Warren Luening Trumpet
Wayne Bergeron Trumpet
This survivor from the middle of the century hung around long enough to latch onto something for which his colleagues were waiting in vain for decades -- a late-'90s swing revival. His patience thus rewarded, Anthony adopts a variation of the pile-driving jump/rockabilly/swing beat that the younger bands use, adds a rockabilly-tinged electric guitar, rounds up some L.A. session vets and some of the old songs, and re-enters the fray. But after awhile, the beat begins to sound more than a bit monotonous and tired, even desperate, though admittedly that doesn't make Anthony much different from all those Johnny-One-Note new swing bands out there. Vocalist Patrick Tuzzolino does manage to swing "Route 66" very nicely, his duets with Madeline Vergari bring back a Louis Prima/Keely Smith-like feeling, and Anthony's trumpet sounds robust. On a less-trendy note, "Sing Sing Sing" merely apes the Goodman rendition -- and "In the Groove" is a blatant rip-off of "In the Mood," however artfully altered. It will be interesting to see whether the young swing audience cottons to this oldster's soundalike revue. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide
Ray Anthony
Active Decades: '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Jan 20, 1922 in Bentleyville, PA
Genre: Jazz
Ray Anthony played two years with Glenn Miller and ten with Jimmy Dorsey before forming his own band. Anthony led a group in the Pacific during World War II, then had a highly popular dance band. He probably has as much fame, if not more, as the writer of the theme for Dragnet, the novelty tune "The Bunny Hop," and the hit single "Dancing in the Dark." He also had plenty of film and TV work in the '50s, including an appearance in the film Daddy Long Legs.
---Ron Wynn, All Music Guide |
