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INDEX TO VIDEOS:
THE JONES BOYS SING BAND
WATCH the VIDEO of The Original Sing Band (The Jones Boys Sing Band) singing "Pickin' A Rib" from the 1938 movie short "Hollywood Handicap" in MP4 format.
(Will open in a new window)The Jones Boys Sing Band sell their instruments in order to enter their horse, "Suzie Q", in a race. So they must imitate instruments in order to fulfill their entertainment gig. They are being led by Leon René, not shown in the picture at left.
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"Pickin' A Rib" - The Original Sing Band (The Jones Boys Sing Band) - Hollywood Handicap - 1938.
DEEK WATSON AND HIS BROWN DOTS
WATCH the VIDEO of Deek Watson And His Brown Dots singing "Satchel Mouth Baby" from the 1947 movie "Boy! What A Girl" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Deek Watson And His Brown Dots had released this song on the Manor label in 1947. Pat Best is their baritone and guitar player. That's Ann Cornell (far right in picture) that Deek has join them during the song.
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"Satchel Mouth Baby" - Deek Watson And His Brown Dots - Boy! What A Girl - 1947.
DELTA RHYTHM BOYS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Delta Rhythm Boys singing "Take The 'A' Train" from a 1941 Minoco Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Delta Rhythm Boys take the "A" train to 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, where they are entertained by pretty dancers. The Deltas released this song on Decca in 1941.
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"Take The "A" Train" - The Delta Rhythm Boys - Minoco Soundie - 1941.
DUKE ELLINGTON'S ORCHESTRA
WATCH the VIDEO of Duke Ellington's Orchestra singing "Take The 'A' Train" from a short, which was included in the 1943 movie "Reveille With Beverly" in MP4 format.
(Will open in a new window)Duke Ellington's Orchestra performs inside a train. Betty Roche is backed vocally by members of the orchestra. Note that Miss Roche dances "the twist", well before its national fame.
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"Take The "A" Train" - Duke Ellington And His Orchestra - Reveille With Beverly - 1943.
THE THREE PEPPERS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Three Peppers singing "Mary Had A Little Lamb" from their 1944 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Three Peppers, as shown in the picture, are (L-R) Bob Bell, Roy Branker, and Walter Williams. This Soundie, taken directly from the original 16mm film, is in reverse. They had several Soundies released in 1944/45.
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"Mary Had A Little Lamb" - The Three Peppers - Soundie - 1944.
THE DANDRIDGE SISTERS, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, MAXINE SULLIVAN
WATCH the VIDEO of The Dandridge Sisters, Louis Armstrong, and Maxine Sullivan singing "Mutiny In The Nursery" from the 1938 movie "Going Places" in MP4 format.
(Will open in a new window)The Dandridge Sisters are (L-R) Etta Jones, Vivian Dandridge, and Dorothy Dandridge. Also performing in this clip are Dick Powell and members of The Cats And The Fiddle (see if you can spot them in Satchmo's band).
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"Mutiny In The Nursery" - Louis Armstrong, Maxine Sullivan, Dandridge Sisters, Etc - Going Places - 1938.
SAVANNAH CHURCHILL
WATCH the VIDEO of Savannah Churchill singing "What To Do" from her 1942 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
This Soundie provided by Paul Ressler. Les Hite's Orchestra backs Savannah. Because it is a Soundie, the picture is reversed. This same year, she did another Soundie, "The Devil Sat Down And Cried". Also in 1942, Savannah had her first two records, both released on Joe Davis' Beacon label.
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"What To Do" - Savannah Churchill - Soundie - 1942.
THE FOUR KNIGHTS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Four Knights singing "I Want To Say Hello" on the "Red Skelton Show" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Four Knights are (L-R) Oscar Broadway, Clarence Dixon, Gene Alford, and John Wallace. They had various appearances on Red Skelton's TV show (CBS) from 1951 to 1953. This song was released by them on Capitol 1840 in 1951.
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"I Want To Say Hello" - The Four Knights - Capitol 1840 - 1951.
THE JUBALAIRES
WATCH the VIDEO of The Jubalaires singing "Preacher And The Bear" from their 1945 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Jubalaires in this Soundie are (L-R) John Jennings, J.C. Ginyard, George McFadden, and Ted Brooks. Also in 1945, The Jubalaires began their five-year stay at Decca Records.
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"Preacher And The Bear" - The Jubalaires - Soundies 1045-2-56 - 1945.
LAVERN BAKER
WATCH the VIDEO of LaVern Baker singing "Love Me Right" from the 1957 movie "Mister Rock And Roll" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
In this movie, LaVern Baker also sings "Humpty Dumpty Heart". And she appeared in the 1956 movie "Rock, Rock, Rock!" singing "Tra La La".
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"Love Me Right" - LaVern Baker - Mister Rock And Roll - 1957.
DICK POWELL AND THE MILLS BROTHERS
WATCH the VIDEO of Dick Powell And The Mills Brothers singing "Lulu's Back In Town" from the 1935 movie "Broadway Gondolier" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Dick Powell takes center by horning in on the group during the song. The October 5, 1935 issue of the Chicago Defender stated that The Mills Brothers recorded five songs for "Broadway Gondolier", but only sang this one song in the released version of the film.
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"Lulu's Back In Town" - Dick Powell And The Mills Brothers - Broadway Gondolier - 1935.
RUTH BROWN
WATCH the VIDEO of Ruth Brown singing "Teardrops From My Eyes" from the 1955 movie "Rhythm And Blues Revue" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Ruth Brown wows the crowd with her 1950 Atlantic Records hit song. Willie Bryant, the master of ceremonies, intruduces Ruth with a short comedic sketch. The "PW" is the Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams band.
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"Teardrops From My Eyes" - Ruth Brown - Rhythm And Blues Revue - 1955.
LOUMELL MORGAN TRIO
WATCH the VIDEO of The Loumell Morgan Trio singing "Let It Ride" from the 1943 movie "All By Myself" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
This video provided by Phil Beauchamp. The Loumell Morgan Trio, wearing cowboy outfits, sing and play their musical instruments. They also performed in the 1943 film "Melody Parade".
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"Let It Ride" - The Loumell Morgan Trio - All By Myself - 1943.
DAY, DAWN AND DUSK
WATCH the VIDEO of Day, Dawn And Dusk singing "Faust" from their 1945 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
This video was transferred directly into MP4 format from the original 16mm film. Day, Dawn And Dusk consisted of Bob Caver (Day), Eddie Coleman (Dawn) and Gus Simons (Dusk). This is one of three Soundies available by Day, Dawn And Dusk on this webpage.
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"Faust" - Day, Dawn And Dusk - Soundie - 1945.
DAY, DAWN AND DUSK
WATCH the VIDEO of Day, Dawn And Dusk singing "Rigoletto" from their 1945 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
This video was transferred directly into MP4 format from the original 16mm film. Bob Caver plays the title role. This is one of three Soundies available by Day, Dawn And Dusk on this webpage.
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"Rigoletto" - Day, Dawn And Dusk - Soundie - 1945.
DAY, DAWN AND DUSK
WATCH the VIDEO of Day, Dawn And Dusk singing "Sleep Kentucky Babe" from their 1945 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
This video was transferred directly into MP4 format from the original 16mm film. Gus Simons plays the part of "baby". This is one of three Soundies available by Day, Dawn And Dusk on this webpage.
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"Sleep Kentucky Babe" - Day, Dawn And Dusk - Soundie - 1945.
HERBERT JEFFREY AND THE FOUR TONES
WATCH the VIDEO of Herbert Jeffrey And The Four Tones singing "Pay Day Blues" from the 1939 movie "The Bronze Buckaroo" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Four Tones use their mouths to simulate musical instruments. Someone gets up and tap dances. They starred with Herbert Jeffrey, later known as Herb Jeffries, in five all-black cast western movies (1937-1939).
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"Pay Day Blues" - Herbert Jeffrey And The Four Tones - The Bronze Buckaroo - 1939.
THE FOUR GINGER SNAPS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Four Ginger Snaps singing "Keep Smiling" from their 1943 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
A war time oriented Soundie. Members of The Four Ginger Snaps were (L-R) Ethel Harper, Ruth Christian, Charles Ford, and Leona Hemingway. The Ginger Snaps later recorded for the RCA Victor and University labels (1945-1947).
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"Keep Smiling" - The Four Ginger Snaps - Soundie - 1943.
THE PETERS SISTERS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Peters Sisters singing "Don't Ever Lose It Whatever It Is" from the 1936 movie "With Love And Kisses" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Peters Sisters (Mattye, Anne, and Virginia) are backed by Eddie Kay's Orchestra. The sister trio also appeared in the 1937 movies "Ali Baba Goes To Town" and "Love And Hisses".
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"Don't Ever Lose It Whatever It Is" - The Peters Sisters - With Love And Kisses - 1936.
THE PETERS SISTERS AND OTHERS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Peters Sisters singing "Swing Is Here To Sway" from the 1937 movie "Ali Baba Goes To Town" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Peters Sisters sing, dance, and almost sway completely over at the very end. The segment also includes the movie's star, Eddie Cantor, and dancer Jeni LeGon. The Peters Sisters sing a short version of this same song at the end of the film. (Please be aware that Cantor uses blackface in this video.)
An AUDIO link is NOT practical for this sing and dance movie clip.
THE DANDRIDGE SISTERS AND OTHERS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Dandridge Sisters singing "Alice Blue Gown" from the 1940 movie "Irene" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Hattie Noel and The Radio City Rockettes are the featured dancers. The Dandridge Sisters can be seen in two other videos on this webpage, the 1938 movies "Going Places" and "Snow Gets In Your Eyes".
An AUDIO link is NOT practical for this sing and dance movie clip.
THE DANDRIDGE SISTERS/CATS AND THE FIDDLE
WATCH the VIDEO of The Dandridge Sisters/Cats And The Fiddle singing "Harlem Yodel" from the 1938 movie short "Snow Gets In Your Eyes" in MP4 format.
(Will open in a new window)The Dandridge Sisters, (L-R) Etta Jones, Dorothy Dandridge, and Vivian Dandridge, kick things off and then move over to dance and sing with The Cats And The Fiddle. The Dandridge Sisters can be seen in two other videos on this webpage.
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"Harlem Yodel" - The Dandridge Sisters And Cats And The Fiddle - Snow Gets In Your Eyes - 1938.
SAVANNAH CHURCHILL
WATCH the VIDEO of Savannah Churchill singing "I Want To Be Loved" from the 1948 movie "Miracle In Harlem" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Savannah Churchill is backed up instrumentally and vocally by The Lynn Proctor Trio. Savannah also sang in two other movies, "Souls Of Sin" and "Harlem Follies Of 1949".
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"I Want To Be Loved" - Savannah Churchill - Miracle In Harlem - 1948.
SAVANNAH CHURCHILL
WATCH the VIDEO of Savannah Churchill singing "The Things You Do To Me" from the 1949 movie "Souls Of Sin" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Savannah Churchill, who has top billing in this movie, sings and acts in it. She is singing to Jimmy Wright here. The Four Tunes are backing her on this song's soundtrack, which was taken directly from their released record.
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The sound track is from the released record:
"The Things You Do To Me" - Savannah Churchill And The Four Tunes - Columbia 30146 - 1948.
EUNICE WILSON AND THE FIVE RACKETEERS
WATCH the VIDEO of Eunice Wilson And The Five Racketeers singing and dancing
"I Don't Know Why/Tiger Rag" from the 1935 movie short "An All-Colored Vaudeville Show" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)Eunice Wilson sings and dances. The Five Racketeers back her vocally and instrumentally and then do their own thing. It's too bad that the watermelon background spoils this excellent, wild, and fun performance.
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"I Don't Know Why/Tiger Rag." - Eunice Wilson And The Five Racketeers - An All-Colored Vaudeville Show - 1935.
IVIE ANDERSON AND CRINOLINE CHOIR
WATCH the VIDEO of Ivie Anderson And Crinoline Choir singing "All God's Children Got Rhythm" from the 1937 movie "A Day At The Races" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Harpo Marx plays a flute and directs the musical entertainment in this Marx Brothers film. The Crinoline Choir performs "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen". See if you can spot Dorothy and Vivian Dandridge singing.
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"All God's Children Got Rhythm" - Ivie Anderson And Crinoline Choir - A Day At The Races - 1937.
HAZEL SCOTT AND LENA HORNE
WATCH the VIDEO of Hazel Scott, Lena Horne, and many others performing "Jericho" from the 1943 movie "I Dood It" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
"I Dood It" stars Red Skelton and Eleanor Powell. Hazel Scott plays some great piano! Vivian Dandridge and Maggie Hathaway appear as part of Hazel's entourage. Lena Horne sings up a storm with help from a vocal sextet. In the picture (at left), it looks like Carl Jones at far left, and perhaps other members of The Delta Rhythm Boys.
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"Jericho" - Hazel Scott And Lena Horne - I Dood It - 1943.
THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET
WATCH the VIDEO of The Golden Gate Quartet singing "The General Jumped At Dawn" from the 1944 movie "Hollywood Canteen" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
"Hollywood Canteen" features Joan Leslie, John Garfield, Robert Hutton, and many other Warner Brothers stars. The Andrews Sisters also perform in this movie.
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"The General Jumped At Dawn" - The Golden Gate Quartet - Hollywood Canteen - 1944.
THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET
WATCH the VIDEO of The Golden Gate Quartet singing "Blind Barnabus And A Song Was Born" from the 1948 movie "A Song Is Born" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
"A Song Is Born" stars Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo. This video also includes Louis Armstrong (trumpet), Tommy Dorsey (trombone), Lionel Hampton (vibes), Benny Goodman (clarinet), Charlie Barnett (saxophone), and Louie Bellson (drums).
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"Blind Barnabus And A Song Was Born" - The Golden Gate Quartet - A Song Is Born - 1948.
HARPO MARX AND MANY OTHERS
WATCH the VIDEO of Harpo Marx And Many Others singing "Swingali" from the 1939 movie "At The Circus" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Big production number with Harpo Marx and many unidentified singers and dancers, some just kids. Harpo's beautiful harp playing of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" enthralls all who are there, as they harmonize with him.
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"Swingali" - Harpo Marx And Many Others - At The Circus - 1939.
THE CATS AND THE FIDDLE
WATCH the VIDEO of The Cats And The Fiddle singing "Killin' Jive" from the 1938 movie "The Duke Is Tops" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
"Killin' Jive" became The Cats And The Fiddle's first record, released on Bluebird in 1939. "The Duke Is Tops" features Lena Horne in a starring role. The film also includes a song by Steve Gibson's The Basin Street Boys, which is available elsewhere on this webpage.
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"Killin' Jive" - The Cats And The Fiddle - The Duke Is Tops - 1938.
THE CHARIOTEERS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Charioteers singing "Calliope Jane" from the 1941 movie "Road Show" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Charioteers's lead singer, Billy Williams, is at far left in the picture. Carol Landis and Adolphe Menjou star in "Road Show", a musical comedy. Hoagy Carmichael has composer credits on four of the songs in this film, including "Calliope Jane".
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"Calliope Jane" - The Charioteers - Road Show - 1941.
THE FOUR TOPPERS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Four Toppers performing "Jump! The Water's Fine" from the 1940 movie "Mystery In Swing" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Cee Pee Johnson plays his "Beat My Blues Away" on tom-tom drums. The Four Toppers also back up Josephine Edwards on "You Can't Fool Yourself About Love", a sad, but pretty ballad, written by Cee Pee Johnson. Everybody gets involved with "Let's Go To The Party".
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"Jump! The Water's Fine" - The Four Toppers - Mystery In Swing - 1940.
THE BASIN STREET BOYS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Basin Street Boys sing "Thursday Evening Swing" from the 1938 movie "The Duke Is Tops" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
This is Steve Gibson's Basin Street Boys, not the later Ormonde Wilson group that obtained their name from Gibson. They sing and imitate musical instruments in this number. The Cats And The Fiddle also perform in this movie, that video found elsewhere on this webpage.
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"Thursday Evening Swing" - The Basin Street Boys - The Duke Is Tops - 1938.
THE INK SPOTS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Ink Spots sing "Alabama Bound" from the 1941 movie "The Great American Broadcast" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
After a bar or two of "If I Didn't Care", The Ink Spots jump right into "Alabama Bound". The Inks also back up Alice Faye and John Payne on "Where You Are". From this same film, The Ink Spots sing "I've Got A Bone To Pick With You", which is elsewhere on this webpage.
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"Alabama Bound" - The Ink Spots - The Great American Broadcast - 1941.
THE INK SPOTS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Ink Spots sing "I've Got A Bone To Pick With You" from the 1941 movie "The Great American Broadcast" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Ink Spots start with a ballad, then quickly over to "I've Got A Bone To Pick With You". Bill Kenny and Hoppy Jones engage in the "talking part". From this same film, The Ink Spots sing "Alabama Bound", which is elsewhere on this webpage.
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"I've Got A Bone To Pick With You" - The Ink Spots - The Great American Broadcast - 1941.
THE PETER SISTERS AND JENI LeGON
WATCH the VIDEO "The Peter Sisters And Jeni LeGon" in MP4 format: (Will open in a new window)
The Peters Sisters sing a short version of "Swing Is Here To Sway" from the 1937 movie "Ali Baba Goes To Town". Jeni LeGon dances and sings "There's A Boy In Harlem" from the 1938 movie "Fools For Scandal".This is two short videos combined. The long version of "Swing Is Here To Sway" is elsewhere on this webpage. Jeni LeGon is backed vocally by The Three Brown Girls and instrumentally by the Les Hite Orchestra.
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"Swing Is Here To Sway/There's A Boy In Harlem" - The Peters Sisters/Jeni LeGon - Ali Baba Goes To Town/Fools For Scandal - 1937/1938.
THE JONES BOYS SING BAND
WATCH the VIDEO of The Original Sing Band (The Jones Boys Sing Band) singing "Pack Your Grip And Take A Little Trip/Swing As You Work" from the 1938 movie short "Streamlined Swing" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Original Sing Band (The Jones Boys Sing Band) use brooms, plungers, a funnel, a window squeegee, and a shovel to imitate musical instruments. They also imitate musical instruments in another short from 1938, "Hollywood Handicap". That video is elsewhere on this webpage.
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"Pack Your Grip And Take A Little Trip/Swing As You Work" - The Original Sing Band (The Jones Boys Sing Band) - Streamlined Swing - 1938.
THE INK SPOTS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Ink Spots sing "Shout Brother Shout" from the 1942 movie "Pardon My Sarong" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Deek Watson does his thing, but is he really playing that trumpet? Tip, Tap And Toe tap-dance on a table, while The Ink Spots play their musical instruments.
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"Shout Brother Shout" - The Ink Spots - Pardon My Sarong - 1942.
THE INK SPOTS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Ink Spots sing "Do I Worry?" from the 1942 movie "Pardon My Sarong" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Standard issue Ink Spots ballad with Bill Kenny singing tenor lead and Hoppy Jones doing the bass talking part. Of course, Deek Watson trys to ham it up. Charlie Fuqua plays the guitar.
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"Do I Worry?" - The Ink Spots - Pardon My Sarong - 1942.
DEEK WATSON AND HIS BROWN DOTS
WATCH the VIDEO of Deek Watson And His Brown Dots singing "Is It Right" from the 1947 movie "The Sepia Cinderella" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Brown Dots take turns singing lead in this order: Pat Best, Jimmie Nabbie, then Pat again, Deek Watson, Jimmy Gordon, and ending with Deek. Pat Best, who composed many great songs, including "For Sentimental Reasons", also wrote "Is It Right?".
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"Is It Right" - Deek Watson And His Brown Dots - The Sepia Cinderella - 1947.
DEEK WATSON AND HIS BROWN DOTS
WATCH the VIDEO of Deek Watson And His Brown Dots singing "Long Legged Lizzie" from the 1947 movie "The Sepia Cinderella" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Sheila Guyze and Billy Daniels star in this all-black cast movie. The Brown Dots entertain the customers while serving tables. Long Legged Lizzie had been released by them on the Manor label in 1946.
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"Long Legged Lizzie" - Deek Watson And His Brown Dots - The Sepia Cinderella - 1947.
DEEK WATSON AND HIS BROWN DOTS
WATCH the VIDEO of Deek Watson And His Brown Dots singing "Just In Case You Change Your Mind" from the 1947 movie "Boy! What A Girl" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Pat Best (with guitar in picture at left) and Deek Watson share the main lead singing. The Brown Dots also sing "Satchel Mouth Baby" in this movie. That clip is available elsewhere on this webpage.
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"Just In Case You Change Your Mind" - Deek Watson And His Brown Dots - Boy! What A Girl - 1947.
THE FOUR DREAMERS, FOUR STEP BROTHERS, AND JUNE RICHMOND
WATCH the VIDEO of The Four Dreamers, The Four Step Brothers, and June Richmond performing "Mister Beebe" from the 1944 movie "Carolina Blues" in MP4 format.
(Will open in a new window)This is a big production number with many people. Harold Nicholas sings and dances. June Richmond sings with vocal backing by The Four Dreamers. And The Four Step Brothers do some fantastic tap-dancing.
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"Mister Beebe" - June Richmond And The Four Dreamers - Carolina Blues - 1944.
FATS WALLER AND ADA BROWN
WATCH the VIDEO of Fats Waller And Ada Brown performing "That Ain't Right" from the 1943 movie "Stormy Weather" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Fats Waller plays piano and leads The Beale Street Boys, a small, but hot, band, while Ada Brown wails the blues. Bill Robinson waits on tables and gives just a hint of dancing, which does happen, but later on in the movie.
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"That Ain't Right" - Fats Waller And Ada Brown - Stormy Weather - 1943.
THE MILLS BROTHERS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Mills Brothers singing "Sweet Lucy Brown" from a short, which was included in the 1943 movie "Reveille With Beverly" in MP4 format.
(Will open in a new window)Four boys and a guitar player. Well, three boys and their dad. The Mills Brothers sing and imitate musical instruments. "Sweet Lucy Brown" had been released by them on Decca in 1935.
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"Sweet Lucy Brown" - The Mills Brothers - Reveille With Beverly - 1943.
THE MILLS BROTHERS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Mills Brothers singing "Cielito Lindo" from a short, which was included in the 1943 movie "Reveille With Beverly" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Mills Brothers do their thing by singing and imitating musical instruments. There is one real instrument, however, which is played by long-time Mills Brothers' guitarist, Norman Brown.
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"Cielito Lindo" - The Mills Brothers - Reveille With Beverly - 1943.
THE JONES BOYS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Jones Boys performing "The Lady Known As LuLu" from the 1936 movie "The Big Show" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Jones Boys were another early vocal group that imitated musical instruments, as seen here in this Gene Autry movie. In front center is Jimmy Springs, lead tenor, who was also with The Jones Boys Sing Band, The Four Toppers, and The Five Red Caps.
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"The Lady Known As LuLu" - The Jones Boys - The Big Show - 1936.
THE FOUR SPIRITS OF RHYTHM
WATCH the VIDEO of The Four Spirits Of Rhythm singing "Tom Tom The Elevator Boy" from the 1941 movie "Sweetheart Of The Campus" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
After being caught playing a game of street craps, Leo Watson sings lead for The Four Spirits Of Rhythm and, as usual, hams it up. Teddy Bunn plays the guitar.
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"Tom Tom The Elevator Boy" - The Four Spirits Of Rhythm - Sweetheart Of The Campus - 1941.
ANN CORNELL
WATCH the VIDEO of Ann Cornell singing "I Just Refuse To Sing The Blues" from the 1947 movie "Boy! What A Girl" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Ann Cornell was a relative and student of Ella Fitzgerald. In 1947, following the release of this movie, she had two records on the Sterling Record label. She also had one record on the Bandwagon label, in 1948, backed vocally by The Rhythm Masters.
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"I Just Refuse To Sing The Blues" - Ann Cornell - Boy! What A Girl - 1947.
LOUIS JORDAN AND HIS TYMPANY FIVE
WATCH the VIDEO of Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five singing "Deacon Jones" from the 1944 movie "Meet Miss Bobby Socks" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Louis Jordan wears funny glasses, sings, dances, and plays the saxophone. His Tympany Five (or is that only four?) back him up vocally and instrumentally.
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"Deacon Jones" - Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five - Meet Miss Bobby Socks - 1944.
LOUIS JORDAN AND HIS TYMPANY FIVE
WATCH the VIDEO of Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five performing "Buzz Me" from the 1945 movie short "Caldonia" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Only four of "His Tympany Five" are seen here. This video of "Buzz Me" also came out as a Soundie, copyrighted on April 2, 1945. Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five released this song on the Decca label in 1945.
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"Buzz Me" - Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five - Caldonia - 1945.
LOUIS JORDAN AND HIS TYMPANY FIVE
WATCH the VIDEO of Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five performing "All For The Love Of Lil" from the 1947 movie "Reet, Petite And Gone" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Louis Jordan and June Richmond star in this movie. In this video, Louis, with a full compliment of "His Tympany Five", is performing in a radio broadcast studio. The song was released by him on Decca in 1947.
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"All For The Love Of Lil" - Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five - Reet, Petite And Gone - 1947.
DELTA RHYTHM BOYS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Delta Rhythm Boys performing "Dry Bones" from a 1945 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
The Delta Rhythm Boys here are (L-R) Rene DeKnight (at piano), Traverse Crawford, Carl Jones, Kelsey Pharr, and Lee Gaines. They sing and play the piano, while six attractive women happily listen. The janitor and a dancing skeleton provide the comedy relief.
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"Dry Bones" - The Delta Rhythm Boys - Soundie - 1945.
THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
WATCH the VIDEO of The Count Basie Orchestra performing "Take Me Back, Baby" from a 1941 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
While The Count Basie Orchestra is performing a number, one of the sax players, Jimmy Rushing, falls asleep and has a dream about his girlfriend. Jimmy Rushing was Count Basie's featured vocalist. In reality, he was a pianist, not a saxophonist.
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"Take Me Back, Baby" - Count Basie Orchestra - Soundie - 1941.
FATS WALLER
WATCH the VIDEO of Fats Waller performing "Your Feet's Too Big" from a 1941 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Fats Waller plays piano, sings, and mugs it up. There are several dancers, including Mabel Lee ("Queen of the Soundies"). She's to the left of Fats in the picture. Fifteen years later, Mabel was backed by a vocal group on Hull Records #712 "Dearest Dream"/"He's My Guy".
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"Your Feet's Too Big" - Fats Waller - Soundie - 1941.
VALAIDA SNOW AND THE ALI BABA TRIO
WATCH the VIDEO of Valaida Snow And The Ali Baba Trio performing "Patience And Fortitude" from a 1946 Soundie in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Picture is reversed. Valaida Snow sings and plays the trumpet. She could play ten different musical instruments at professionel levels by age 15. The Ali Baba Trio backs her. This same year, 1946, Valaida, backed by the vocal group "The Day Dreamers", would release "Lonesome Road"/"Fool That I Am" on Bel-Tone Records.
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"Patience And Fortitude" - Valaida Snow And The Ali Baba Trio - Soundie - 1946.
JOE TURNER
WATCH the VIDEO of Joe Turner singing "Shake, Rattle And Roll" from the 1955 movie "Rhythm And Blues Revue" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
Here The Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams Orchestra backs Big Joe Turner. Released on record in 1954, this song was Turner's biggest hit for the Atlantic label. On that version of the song, Atlantic executives Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ertegan provided a chorus backing.
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"Shake, Rattle And Roll" - Joe Turner - Rhythm And Blues Revue - 1955.
THE CABIN KIDS
WATCH the VIDEO of The Cabin Kids singing "After You're Gone", "On Revival Day", "Dinah", and "When The Bloom Is On The Sage" " from the 1937 movies "Git Along Little Dogies" and "Round-Up Time In Texas" in MP4 format. (Will open in a new window)
In "Git Along Little Dogies", The Cabin Kids sing "After You're Gone" on Gene Autry's radio show. Then they perform two songs with Gene Autry/Smiley Burnette in "Round-Up Time In Texas". The Cabin Kids were Ruth, Helen, James, Winifred, and Fred.
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"After You're Gone, On Revival Day, Dinah, and When The Bloom Is On The Sage" - The Cabin Kids - Git Along Little Dogies, Round-Up Time In Texas - 1937.
Last Update: August 16, 2021 Start Date: August 16, 2021
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