Savoy Hotel Orpheans - My Bluebird's Back Again
  • 15 years ago
This band was formed in early 1923. The main attraction at London's famed Savoy Hotel had been Bert Ralton's Savoy Havana Band, and when Ralton left in late 1922 for an Australian tour, the band's violinist, Reginald Batten, became the leader. (Rudy Vallee was playing the Sax and Billy Mayerl was on the Piano). In 1923, due to the great popularity of the NY Havana Band, the Savoy decided to hire still another band - called The Savoy Orpheans - with Debroy Sommers as Leader. (Vallee was still on Sax but Billy Thorburn was on the piano. Carroll Gibbons was also in the new band). Now, both the New York Havana Band and The Savoy Orpheans bands were feature attractions at the Hotel. These bands included many notable musicians and later band leaders. Somers left the Orpheans in 1926 with Newton becoming Leader. Carroll Gibbons became the Leader in 1927. The Orpheans ended their involvement with the Savoy in 1927 (along with the Savoy Havana Band), but in the early 1930s Howard Jacobs and Carroll Gibbons, as joint leaders, formed a band known as the Savoy Hotel Orpheans. The band was later lead by Gibbons alone, and his name became added to its title. This brilliant recording was probably made in 1931, with Jack Plant on vocal.