Solar Bell

A neat story…..

A good friend of is Ray Brennan, an 85 year old trumpet player. I do mean trumpet player too, at his age he can still “hit” an Ab above high C on demand.

He was telling me a story recently that I thought I would share. Ray is from the South Philly area, that area which has produced an unbelievable number of great jazz and legit musicians. (Right Wilmer?)

Anyway, Ray told me of going to hear Tommy Dorsey play in late 1936, early 1937.
He went with his friend Mike Slowesky and Mrs. Dorsey, Tommy’s mother, whom they knew very well.

During one of the sets, Mike told Mrs. Dorsey that he had written a song called “Dancing with You” and asked her if she thought that Tommy might look at the music. He was afraid to ask Tommy himself.

When the set was over Tommy came to the table to sit with them. His mother said, “Tommy, Mike has written a song and I would like you to play it.”

Tommy looked at Mike and Ray and said in a gruff voice “Is it arranged?”

Mike said that it was, so Tommy took Mike’s chart of “Dancing With You” up to the bandstand and passed it out. (Boy, what power mothers can wield!)

The band played it and Tommy said he liked the melody.

Tommy gave the chart to his personal arranger, Bud Green who arranged it specifically for the Dorsey band and changed the lyrics and title.

Within a year, Mike Slowesky, who changed his name to Michael Edwards, received a check for $25,000 (in 1937!) for his tune, now called “Once In A While”

The tune has been recorded many times by top bands and vocalists and is one of the nicest songs of the Big Band Era.

Just thought I would share this story with you all.

-cw-

tpter1

Neat story, Chuck. Thanks!

Deecy

AND! a simply GREAT tune!

South Philly be the place! Jes' ask me!

Tom

beartrumpet74

cool story chuck, thanks !
Matt

wiseone2

I grew up with Tony Marchione(Nick's dad), Vince Penzarella, Mike Natale,Ted Curson . The great Mel Davis' family owned the grocery store down the block.
Mel was a bit older. The trumpet soloist on Eddie Fisher's "O Ma Papa" was Mel.
Lee Morgan and Lou Opalesky were growing up on the other side of Philly.
It was hot when I was a kid in Philly
Wilmer