Wie geht's?
Lately, I've been listening to a lot of dance bands from the 1930s and 1940s, as you do when prepping music selections for parents who were teenagers in those years. I'm speaking about Kevy's dad, Greg's dad and my parents - both of whom belonged to the Auckland Swing club (their membership pin, which I wear on a suit, is pictured above).
Dance music of that era conformed to a pretty strict formula. My parents were both born in NZ and they gravitated towards American swing bands. Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller were my parents' favourites.
On the other hand, Joe Simms and Harry Knowles were originally from Blighty and they were more inclined towards British dance bands who 'typically played melodic, good-time music that had jazz and big band influences but also maintained a peculiarly British sense of rhythm and style which came from the music hall tradition'.
So, my Spotify listening this week has been built around Billy Cotton and Jack Hylton, with a side order of Benny Goodman and Woody Herman.
Ironically, this was music I couldn't wouldn't shouldn't like when growing up and while I still don't understand it, I certainly have enjoyed exploring the genre and expanding my listening repertoire.
Again, what hits you between your ears and stays with you throughout your life, comes down to the era of music you happen to become a teenager in. Up to that point you are forced to listen to the music of your parents' generation. For me it's the early 1970s, but for Harry Knowles, born in Kent in 1922, it's the mid-thirties; for Graham (1928), Dulcie (1930) and Joe (born in Manchester 1930) it's the early forties.
All of them were teenagers (not that the term existed) within that dance band/ swing era.
The week ahead focuses on Harry Knowles. You can track our progress here.
Love and peace - Wozza
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