#858 (2/27/16 - 3/11/16)

SPOTLIGHT ON
THE PALMER BROTHERS - CABALIERS - SPARROWS
(PART ONE OF TWO)

"I See A Million People (But All I Can See Is You)"
Cab Calloway And The Palmer Brothers
on Okeh 6341
released in 1941

"Blues In The Night"
Cab Calloway And The Palmer Brothers
on Okeh 6422
released in 1941

"Let's Go Joe"
Cab Calloway And The Cabaliers
on Okeh 6720
released in 1944 [recorded 1942]



Above: The Palmer Brothers (L-R) Clarence, Ernie and Dick.

New York Age, June 21, 1930: "June Time" will be a summer revel at the Alhambra Theatre next week, starting Monday. A large cast is being assembled, including the popular Three Palmer Brothers whose crooning melodies have made them night club favorites. For two years the Palmer boys were a feature at Connie's Inn.
(NOTE: Both the Alhambra Theatre and Connie's Inn were located in Harlem, New York City, as was the "whites only" Cotton Club in 1930.)

New York Age, September 6, 1930: At The Alhambra ...The Three Palmer Brothers, who were favorites for several years at Connie's and the Cotton Club, croon their songs right into everybody's hearts and are demanded again and again by the audience.

Pittsburgh Courier, June 23, 1934: The Three Palmer Brothers, harmony singing act, were sent to Canton, Ohio, last week, where they opened with the Duke Ellington unit.

Pittsburgh Courier, April 15, 1939: The Palmer Brothers new band is broadcasting Thursdays at 11:30 from station WNEW, New York.

Pittsburgh Courier, November 28, 1942: ...For the stage show, the Stanley has Cab Calloway's Jumpin' Jive Jubilee and the show which the master of Hi De Ho presents lives up to its name in every division... One of the highlights of Cab's show was the harmony singing of his "Cabaliers."
(NOTE: The Stanley Theatre, now named Benedum Center, was located in Pittsburgh.)

Pittsburgh Courier, July 29, 1944: Cabaliers at Apollo—The Cabaliers trio vocal and instrumental group, formerly with Cab Calloway's orchestra, will be at the Apollo theatre the week of July 28. The Cabaliers have just closed an engagement at Kelly's Stable on West 52nd street. These boys are Elmer Hope at the piano, Clarence Palmer, bass fiddle, and Kenny White, electric guitar.

Click HERE for an article about The Jive Bombers (Includes The Palmer Brothers, Cabaliers and Sparrows) by Marv Goldberg.
(Will open in a separate window)





Above: (Left) "Another Sensational Dance And Show" with Cab Calloway and the Cabaliers, from Long Beach Independent (California) dated 2/19/43; (Right) Cab Calloway performing in a typical pose.


(Cab Calloway Dancing With Ivy Anderson)


(Cab Calloway And His Orchestra)

EXTRA AUDIO (Windows Media Player): [Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

Listen to "Lonely" - The Palmer Brothers - Varsity 8106 - 1939.

Listen to "C-I-N-C-I-N-N-A-T-I" - The Palmer Brothers (Teddy McRae Zanzibar Orchestra) - Queen 4122 - 1946.

Singing on their own, The Palmer Brothers had releases on Banner/Melotone/Oriole/Perfect/Romeo (1934-35), Decca (1935), Variety/Vocalion (1937), Varsity (1939), Okeh (1941), and Queen (1946).

They also backed up Larry Wynn on Bluebird (1938), Cab Calloway on Okeh (1941) and Timmie Rogers on Majestic (1946-47).

As The Cabaliers, they backed Cab Calloway on Columbia/Okeh (1942-45).


Above Left: Cab Calloway directing in his famous charismatic style.

Above Right: Label image of Okeh 6341 released in 1941. This is The Palmer Brothers' first record with Cab Calloway.


Above: Label images of Okeh 6422 released in 1941 and Okeh 6720 released in 1944, but recorded in 1942. Note that, somewhere between these two records, The Palmer Brothers added Billy Green to become a quartet named The Cabaliers.

The song "Blues In The Night" (from the 1941 movie of the same name) became a huge hit for composers Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen in 1942. Vying with Cab Calloway for top status were Woody Herman, Jimmy Lunceford, and Dinah Shore. There were also versions by Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Bing Crosby. "Fitch Bandwagon," as shown on the label, was an NBC radio show sponsored by Fitch shampoo.

As The Cabaliers, they backed Cab Calloway singing the title song in the movie shorts "Blues In The Night," "Virginia, Georgia, And Caroline" and "The Skunk Song" (all released in 1942).

Billboard Reviews of "Let's Go Joe" (Both from the 7/1/44 issue):

This record and song show indications of becomimg a future nationwide hit...
LET'S GO, JOE—Cab Calloway And His Ork—Okeh 6720
All the bounce and sending that makes bobby-soxers go for Cab is in this number. He keeps everything under control and it's as good for the home player as it is for the hot-spot juke. Cab with an assist by a singing group in the ork do okay by the vocals which have a GI slant without a GI mention.

CAB CALLOWAY (Columbia)—"Let's Go, Joe"
With heavy emphasis on the jump rhythm, Cab Calloway gives out with a potent swing dish that keeps well within commercial bounds... The bounce beat is very pronounced for Cab's own "Let's Go, Joe," a rhythm recipe based on the Harlem jive. Assisted by the smooth harmony singing of the Cabaliers, Calloway cuts a striking figure with the wordage. And for added listening excitement, the high and hot note phrasings of the trumpeter is something to occupy the attention...


Listen to this week's selections featuring Cab Calloway And The Palmer Brothers/The Cabaliers on Okeh from 1941/44:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

     A. Stream RealAudio (DO NOT USE...LISTEN USING DOWNLOAD REALAUDIO)...
 
          1. I See A Million People
          2. Blues In The Night
          3. Let's Go Joe
 
          ALL THREE played in sequence

     B. Download RealAudio...
 
          1. I See A Million People
          2. Blues In The Night
          3. Let's Go Joe

     C. Stream/Download Media Player...
 
          1. I See A Million People
          2. Blues In The Night
          3. Let's Go Joe
 
          ALL THREE played in sequence
          (The "m3u" file may need to be opened after it is downloaded)

      [To download audio files, right-click on link and then select "Save (Link) Target As..."]

Click HERE for SPOTLIGHT ON THE PALMER BROTHERS - CABALIERS - SPARROWS (PART TWO OF TWO).
(Above link will open in a separate window)


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