!9# Blue Steele Orch. - Sugar Babe, I'm Leavin', 1927

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Blue Steele Orch. - Sugar Babe, I'm Leavin', 1927

Blue STEELE - Living Legend in the music world, called sometimes "the Dean of Dixieland" - started his career as a band leader in 1919, that was shortly before radio which came in 192o, but he got a real break in 1927 when one of his boys (Sunny Clapp) came up with a song. The result was "Girl of My Dreams", recorded by Victor with Kenny Sargent's vocal (- it can be found in You Tube at ksmp01 site !). This tune has been played and sung wherever the English language is spoken and is considered even today, the classic of all love songs. Blue Steele and his Victor Recording Orchestra went on to be the darlings of the era, which favored mostly sweet „white tuxedo" dance bands (Paul Whiteman, Lombardo, Wayne King etc). Blue Steele's band could play in this immaculate „high style", but his large orchestra (which included seventeen pieces by this time) could also start the „joint jumpin'" tune to the delight of the more sophisticated customers, but the annoyance of managers. Casa Loma Orchestra, using the musical style originated by Blue Steele - with an assist from arranger Gene Gifford -- has gained for many decades the international fame. Steele has also toured Europe, the Philippine Islands, Hawaii and Mexico City -- where he spent many years at the El Patio Club. He also had a fifty-two piece symphony orchestra which he directed twice a week over Radio in Mexico City. ------------------------------- Recording: Blue Steele & His orch., voc. Blue Steele - Sugar Babe, I'm ...