International Sweethearts of Rhythm
- robcat2075
- Posts: 1867
- Joined: Sep 03, 2018
The first integrated, all-female jazz band. Maybe there were many of these but it's new to me.
Sounds like they have a solid trombone section although i did not detect a soloist in what i have surveyed of this.
<YOUTUBE id="WczP3PyHt20">[media]https://youtu.be/WczP3PyHt20</YOUTUBE>
Several veterans of the band tell their story. I suppose there could be a movie like "A League of Their Own" about this but i don't know how one would ever cast it.
<YOUTUBE id="_Cjmg8Jepvw">[media]https://youtu.be/_Cjmg8Jepvw</YOUTUBE>
Sounds like they have a solid trombone section although i did not detect a soloist in what i have surveyed of this.
<YOUTUBE id="WczP3PyHt20">
Several veterans of the band tell their story. I suppose there could be a movie like "A League of Their Own" about this but i don't know how one would ever cast it.
<YOUTUBE id="_Cjmg8Jepvw">
- JTeagarden
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Feb 24, 2025
Another noted one was Phil Spitalny and His All-Girl Orcvhestra:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Spitalny
As a kind of student of the swing era, these are the only national ones I have ever heard of. I actually remeber a recording of Tommy Dorsey telling a lame joke before performing a song that referenced Phil Spitalny, so the audience was familiar with him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Spitalny
As a kind of student of the swing era, these are the only national ones I have ever heard of. I actually remeber a recording of Tommy Dorsey telling a lame joke before performing a song that referenced Phil Spitalny, so the audience was familiar with him.
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
The difference between the two was that Sweethearts was supposed to be integrated, although a quick view of some of the video shows the only white musician was the bass player (who might have been a very light skinned black -- segregation was still strong at the time).
I think one of the first integrated jazz groups was Benny Goodman's quartet, with two black players and two white ones. I don't even know if Goodman integrated his band.
The two tunes I watched by the Sweethearts sounded very much like late 1930s or early 1940s tunes.
I think one of the first integrated jazz groups was Benny Goodman's quartet, with two black players and two white ones. I don't even know if Goodman integrated his band.
The two tunes I watched by the Sweethearts sounded very much like late 1930s or early 1940s tunes.
- Vegasbound
- Posts: 1328
- Joined: Jul 06, 2019
Interesting article on the two bands mentioned
<LINK_TEXT text="https://syncopatedtimes.com/the-interna ... m-1937-49/">https://syncopatedtimes.com/the-international-sweethearts-of-rhythm-1937-49/</LINK_TEXT>
<LINK_TEXT text="https://syncopatedtimes.com/the-interna ... m-1937-49/">https://syncopatedtimes.com/the-international-sweethearts-of-rhythm-1937-49/</LINK_TEXT>
- JTeagarden
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Feb 24, 2025
Almost forgot: Ina Ray Hutton, also quite well known in her day:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ina_Ray_Hutton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ina_Ray_Hutton