Big
Band Books
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TUMPAK’S
SWINGING JOURNAL The long-anticipated works of big band/jazz scribe John Tumpak has finally rolled off of the presses. Through the years, Tumpak has been turning out hundreds of columns covering the big band and jazz scene from coast-to-coast and overseas, featuring profiles of and lesser-known musicians and vocalists. John has gathered the very best of these writings and the result, is a wonderful new book entitled, When Swing Was the Thing: Personality Profiles of the Big Band Era.Over the years, John Tumpak developed personal associations with many bandleaders, musicians, vocalists, arrangers, and contributors who participated in the Big Band Era. The unique stories of these and other Era personalities are told in his book, which provides a detailed insight into their personal and professional lives and the cultural history of the time.Forty of the publication’s forty-seven chapters are based on interviews Tumpak conducted with the people he knew or their immediate family members. Major historic events in the careers of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller are also included. In addition, there are 114 vintage photos, many of which were provided by individuals featured in the book and appear in print for the first time. “When Swing Was the Thing” provides a descriptive and visual return to the days of that unique period from the mid 1930s to the mid 1940s, when fifteen-piece swing band dominated American entertainment, filling ballrooms to capacity, broadcasting on the radio, appearing in the movies, and bringing international fame to the high-profile bandleaders. |
by Jack
Lebo | John Tumpak is a jazz journalist
who specializes in writing about
the Big Band Era. His work has been published in the UnitedStates,
Canada, and England, and his articles are archived in several historical
societies, universities, and the Institute of Jazz Studies at-Rutgers
University in New Jersey. An accomplished and in-demand public speaker,
John makes Big Band Era presentations at jazz events and organization
conferences on a regular basis and frequently appears on radio and
television discussing the Era. He is on the Board of Directors of
the Big Band Academy of America and the Ellington Jazz Society,
Jazz Journalist Association, and Los Angeles Jazz Society. This
is a 'must read' for followers of the Big Bands, their talented
musicians and vocalists, who made the Golden Era of Big Bands so
memorable. CONTACT: The cost of "When Swing Was the Thing" is $35.plus $7.shipping. It may be purchased by writing to Marquette University Press, P.O. Box 3141, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3141, USA. Credit cards: Call Customer Service, 1-419-281-1802, Fax: 1-419-281-6883. Mention this publication when ordering to secure the low ship rate. The book also available at Amazon.com. |
John Tumpak. |
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TUMPAK BOOK-Illuminating and Amusing by Pete King One of the best books to arrive on my door step recently is John Tumpak's excellent compilation of some of his great writings that he has had published over many years in a variety of Jazz publications around the world, one of which is our own Big Band Buddies magazine. The book called 'When Swing Was the Thing' was first reviewed in our June magazine by our friend Jack Lebo. I was expecting a book full of factual stories about some of our most revered stars of the period we all love to relive, the 'Big Band Era', and sure enough that's what I got. Additionally as expected John, through his contacts with many of the people he writes about, expands on the basic facts that are in many of the reference type books available regarding the era. John enlightens us with many anecdotes and unknown facts and interesting ditties which are illuminating and amusing in many cases. A thoroughly great read which is a must for all enthusiasts that find a hunger and eagerness for more in-depth information about the people who have meant so much in their lives over these many years, and of being a devoted fan of the great era of music at it best. One thing that Jack Lebo did not mention was the fact that this book is not only a pleasure to read but it is a pleasure just to hold and have it in your bookcase because the quality of the book binding which is hard back cover in gloss finish with a collage of photos of the stars mentioned in the book but each and every page is printed on high quality satin grade paper giving this book the status it so deserves. You'll also find many fine photographs
of those people who were active Band Leaders, musicians, vocalist
and arrangers during that fabulous and never forgotten period,
"When Swing Was the Thing." |
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Glenn
Miller and his Orchestra By George T. Simon. First issued in 1974.
published by W.H. Allen. |
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This is a fancinating
book by Sheila Tracy |
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The Band Leader by Jack Fortes
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The Band Leader, written by Jack Fortes is a novel of the Big Bands in the 40's:-"Peter Conrad Delaney's hands were made for a baton and a clarinet. |
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As a child,he stood in front on the family's Atwater Kent radio, holding a stick,"directing" the music of a big band in the early thirties. As he grew older he learned about Benny Goodman's first successful engagement at Hollywood Palomar Ballroom in 1935, and Pete knew he would be a part of the big band scene and even be a bandleader someday. Playing in a "little big band" in high school and a college dance band, Pete takes a band "on the road," the most famous road in America-Route66--in 1941. The series of "one-nighters" in small towns like Kingman, Needles, Barstow, Tusumcari, and Shamrock brought the big band sounds of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsy, Benny Goodman,and Artie Shaw to these music-starved areas. The Band Leader Purchase through Amazon US$20.99
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