Dick Haymes was the vocalist with Harry James at that period. He went on to be a movie star and was one of Rita Hayworths husbands for a while if I am not mistaken. He was also born in Argentina.
Trivia: Connie Haynes, who sang with TD was given her name by HJ when she sang with his band. James/Haynes.

And, it may be interesting to know that Dick Johnson and Paul Kelly were good friends. Paul is arranging four pieces for our April 17 and 18th “Jazz Encounters Classical Music” concerts. Paul wrote pieces that featured Dick back when Paul was a student at Berklee College of Music.

When I first moved to Sanford as Visiting Artist at CCCC, I heard stories of Paul and what a great musiican he was…It turned out he lived right down the street from me, and he was a home builder.

I kept plugging away to find out more about him, finally got to know him a few years ago, and then started getting him to let us play his big band arrangements. They are great …He was employed as staff arranger with the Airmen of Note. We have his charts that he wrote for them on Them There Eyes, Speak Low, and Deep River. And the new ones for the upcoming concerts are perfect.

Incidentally, in researching all this I found an interesting site (www.bigbandlibrary) that covers the itinerary of touring big bands and a whole lot of other good stuff.

Here’s a Dick Johnson story, taken from “Jazz Anecdotes,” bassist Bill Crow’s very funny book:
When Dick became director of the Shaw orchestra, he called a supplier to order music folders with “The Artie Shaw Orchestra” embossed on each. As he assumed that everyone had heard of Shaw, he didn’t spell the name.

Now Dick’s accent was pure Brockton, MA. When the folders arrived, beautifully printed on each one was “THE OTTIE SHORE ORCHESTRA.”

He kept them.

Great big difference between fame(often undeserved) and talent. So many really talented musicians who never got anywhere near fame and far from fortune.

I’m glad you point out the error in the recent bio of HJ by Levensin..

I read a recent History of Jazz by Ted Gioia.. he writes that of Thelonious Monk was born in Rocky Mountain, NC wrong..he was born in Rocky Mount!

And I also like you’re comment about ‘how fleeting fame can be” How true…! I think the the whole fame thing is blown way out of proportion..

Back to Tommy Dorsey. Year 1953, Wildwood, NJ, TD is appearing at a local supper club. About 1 AM I’m sitting in a small diner a block or so from the club when Tommy comes in a sits in the stool next to me. I nudge a young lady seated on my left and inform her of the fact. Her reply, ‘Who’s that?’ How fleeting can fame be.

“Time Is All You’ve Got is on DVD. Netflix has it. Might be available for purchase on Amazon.”

And, yes Orchestra or Big Band is an interchangeable description of large jazz ensembles..

Since we’re talking about Artie Shaw, what about that other but different kind of master of the clarinet, Benny Goodman? He, too, was a major player (every pun intended) in featuring black musicians in a white band. Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson. At least, it was start and a brave one, considering the time and the threat of economic consequences.
Question: Are we using band and orchestra interchangeably?

I’ll be on the look out for it. Maybe someone in the forum can help us find it, and then we can possibly have a showing of it prior to the dance.

PS I’ve also often wondered what all the fuss is about over getting someone’s autograph!