[Tradjazz] Trad Jazz on the Radio

[Bruce McNichols]

Trad Jazz on the Radio

In my early years (12 or 13 years old), when I had first discovered this beloved music, and in my later teenage years, I heard quite a bit of it on the radio. 

Ted Husing, the sportscaster, had a nightly program on which he played Dixieland Jazz. He featured a lot of the Collegiate Bands. I recall, dutifully stopping my record player when his program was on.

In those days, it seemed that every college had a Dixieland band. My friend Peter Ferran (reeds) went to Holy Cross and was in their Dixieland group "The Saint James Society" (great name, eh?). There was Eli's Chosen Six from Yale. I also recall The Spring Street Stompers that played in Greenwich Village on, you guessed it, Spring Street. And of course Stan Rubin's Tigertown Five from Princeton. 

John S. Wilson had a weekly program on WQXR (the radio station of the New York Times). He played Classic Jazz and his program was an education to a guy such as I. 

Ed Beach on WRVR (NYC) played a variety of jazz, with lots of old-time stuff. 

Sympony Sid was a legendary jazz DJ, although his music was modern compared to the other guys. 

~ 

In those days, the radio networks were still broadcasting remotes of dance bands, from around the country. I loved those programs too, but my heart was in the older styles of music. 

To my delight and amazement, WOR Radio (NYC) had two remotes a week, from Nick's in Greenwich Village. At that time, Phil Napoleon's Memphis Five, was there. I can still hear their closing theme (Tin Roof Blues). I was in heaven. I was also, literally, under the covers with my radio (no little earpieces then). After all. It was past my bedtime. 

Not too many years after that, when my buddies and I could get into bars (the drinking age in New York at that time, was 18) I had many chances to go to Nick's and be enchanted by Wild Bill Davison et al.

Around that same time, I discovered yet another under the covers treat (make your own joke). It was a station from Toronto, Canada (940 on the AM dial). Frequently they'd have "live" remotes with a trumpet guy name Trump Davison (clever) and his Dixieland band. I loved it. By the way, in New York at night, that station still comes through. These days they play a lot of Big Band music. 

In the 1960's, WCBS Radio (NYC) had a weekly program hosted by Ed Joyce (respected newsman). The first part of each program had Pee Wee Erwin's band, "live" complete with a studio audience. Years later I became friends with Pee Wee who was a very special player and a very special guy. 

How many of you remember The Harley Show (from WBAL, Baltimore)? Harley was a guy who owned a chain of sandwich shops and he loved our music. Each weekday night, for about 3 hours, he'd play old-time jazz recordings. One night, while driving home, I tuned in and found that he was featuring the Smith Street Society's first LP. He played the whole thing. Sure enough, record orders came in from that broadcast.

Also in the 60's was a guy who every musician I know, tuned in to, on Saturday night, on the way to gigs. He was Bud Merigold from WMTR in Morristown, NJ. Bud played good stuff, all the time. These days, we're proud to have Bud on the Radio OKOM team, still playing good jazz. Check him out on Radio OKOM (www.okom.com). 

Since the 1970's Danny Stiles has been playing old-time music on New York Radio. Although not exactly a jazz program, his variety of old-time material includes many a hot jazz recording.

For many years, Phil Schaap has been broadcasting all kinds of jazz on various NYC radio stations. Phil plays swing, modern and way-out modern jazz, but he also plays loads of old style jazz. For years he has produced a marathon Louis Armstrong Festival on and around the 4th of July each year. Typically, he plays everything Louis has ever recorded. That includes commercial recordings, out-takes, commercials, movie clips etc.

Ray Smith (drummer and leader of the Paramount Jazz Band of Boston) had a program on public radio for many years. His show was very informative and very entertaining. One time he featured one of our LPs. Lo and behold, the orders poured in. Thank you Ray.

Rich Conaty's Big Broadcast. Since the 1970's and still going strong, Rich presents his program on WFUV Radio (90.7 FM) and on the Internet, every Sunday from 8PM to Midnight. He plays music of the 1920's and early 30's. Check him out.

Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins joined the sainted (and late lamented) WNEW-AM radio crew in 1950. As a kid I listened to him often. He played all kinds of jazzy stuff. He adored the Basie Band and things like that. He also played lots of trad jazz. Through Al, we performed more than 50 special broadcasts on that station and they played our commercial recordings and our theme songs and jingles that we recorded for them. 

All the while, Joe Franklin had programs that played nostalgia music. As with Danny Stiles, he didn't have an actual trad jazz program, but he did play old-time music, so lots of good jazz was mixed in with vaudeville music and other old style records.

I also listened regularly to Ted Johnson on the old WVNJ Radio (in New Jersey). Ted played a wonderful collection of Dixieland Jazz.

I'm sure I've left out many fine old-time jazz radio programs. Help me and post what you know, that I've missed.

McN




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