Not much is known about this band, mainly active in the mid-30s and late 30s. However, I did find Bert Block's obituary in the NYT of July 16, 1986. A short biography is found in this article: "Bert Block, a manager in the entertainment industry, died of emphysema last Wednesday at Northern Westchester Hospital Center in Mount Kisco, N.Y. He was 74 years old and lived in South Salem, N.Y. Mr. Block began his managing career as a booking agent for the Associated Booking Corporation. He then opened his own agency, the International Talent Association, and managed the careers of, among others, Billie Holiday, Gerry Mulligan, Erroll Garner, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Lenny Bruce, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge and the trio Peter, Paul and Mary. In the 1930's, he was the leader of his own dance band, Bert Block and his Bell Music. His photographs of jazz musicians have appeared in books and music publications. Mr. Block is survived by his wife, the jazz pianist Barbara Carroll; a daughter, Suzanne; a sister, Claire Kramer, and a brother, Herbert.". The American Dance Band's Alphabetical Index states: "Bert's orchestra - actually 'two' orchestras - never went any place. One was known as the "Bert Block Orchestra" and the other was called the "Bell Music Orchestra". "Bell" featured celeste and bell instruments, while the "Bert Block Orch." was a standard bigband. The Bert Block orch. had Axel Stordhal (Odd Stordhal) doing t he arrangements. Jack Leonard was the 'boy' singer. Both of whom wound up with the Tommy Dorsey Orch. The Bell Music Orch featured a good drummer by the name to Terry Snyder. The 'boy' vocalist was Bill Johnson. After the band era, Bert wound up as a successful booking agent for "Folk" groups.". As for this lovely side, it was recorded in 1935, with Jack Leonard on vocal.
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