Battle of the Girl Bands

Round the World is excited to be broadcasting today from the Intergalactic All-Girl Jazz-Band Competition. Eight jazz and swing bands from the Earth’s 1920’s through 1940’s are girding for the Battle of the Bands. Let’s hitch a ride to the Planet Ishtar, where the preponderance of instrumental jazz musicians are of the female persuasion.

Round One:

1 - Jump Children – Anna Mae Winburn with The International Sweethearts of Rhythm - 1945

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm: first integrated jazz band in the US

2 - Queen Sized Mama with a King Sized Appetite - Tiny Davis with The International Sweethearts of Rhythm – 1946

Tiny Davis, a queen-sized woman with a king-sized appetite

3 - Over Moonlit Waters - Harry Wayman and his Debutantes - 1928

The Debutantes

4 - Doll Dance - Harry Wayman and his Debutantes - 1928

5 - Stardust - Ina Ray Hutton and Her Melodears - 1936

Ina Ray Hutton and her Melodears

6 - Organ Grinders Swing - Ina Ray Hutton and Her Melodears – 1936

7 - When I Swing My Stick - Francis Carroll and the Coquettes, Viola Smith on drums - 1939

The legendary Viola Smith in 1939, who was still playing gigs in 2019, age 107.

8 - A Swing Tune - Francis Carroll and the Coquettes, Viola Smith on drums – 1939

9 - Bugle Call Rag/Dinah - Phil Spitalny and the Musical Queens - 1934

The Musical Queens

10 - Hungarian Rhapsody #2 - Phil Spitalny and the Musical Queens – 1934

11 - My Baby Don't Mean Maybe - Green's 20th Century Faydettes, Nina Grey conductor - 1929

Nina Grey conducting the 20th Century Faydettes

12 - Changes - Green's 20th Century Faydettes, Nina Grey conductor – 1929

Intermission:

13 – There’s Rhythm in the River - Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys - 1931

14 - Exactly Like You - Kay Thompson and her Orchestra – 1937

Round Two:

15 - Slightly Frantic - The International Sweethearts of Rhythm – 1945

16 - What Do We Do - Harry Wayman and his Debutantes – 1928

17 - Wild Party - Ina Ray Hutton And Her Melodears – 1934

The Ingenues

18 - Tiger Rag - The Ingenues – 1929

Victory Lap:

19 - Melody of Swing - Ina Ray Hutton's Melodears – 1936

Hour Two:

20 – Phil Wins Contest – Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show – 1950

21 – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, starring Danny Kaye – The Screen Guild Theater – 1947

Blanche Calloway, Cab Calloway’s older sister who taught him everything he knew

22 – Just a Crazy Song – Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys - 1931