[ Roger Wolfe Kahn Orch. ]
b. Oct. 19, 1907, Morristown, NJ,d.July 12, 1962, New York, NY, USA. (Heart Attack)
He began his study of music with the violin at age 7, and by the time he finished, he had mastered 18 different instruments.

An Orchestra was just a toy to Roger. He was heir to a fantastic fortune, and just had a band as his personal play-thing.He bought good musicians such as: Miff Mole; Jack Teagarden; Gene Krupa; and Red Nichols.

He started to compose music when he was 12 years old and formed his first orchestra when he was 15. He played in and around the New York city area.

In the 1920's his band included Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti on guitar and violin respectively . In the mid-20's he had his own booking office and even owned his own niteclub. Listen now to the Roger Wolf Kahn orchestra playing "Crazy Rhythm", recorded in 1928.

In 1935, he became interested in aviation and gave up his band. He started another career in 1941 when he became a test pilot for a well known aircraft manufacturer.

[ Gene Kardos Orch ]
b. June 12, 1899 New York City,d. Aug 27, 1980
Theme Song: "Business In F"
Overview
Gene Kardos deserves a lot more appreciation. Gene led a New York area territory band from 1931-'38 and was a favorite at Roseland with his often advanced swing sound, which was heard right from the beginning. He married his childhood sweetheart in 1940, they had two sons, Charles and Jimmy.

Gene's first recordings were for RCA VICTOR on June 10, 1931.Most early vocals were by Dick Robertson, who didn't travel with the band but was one of the "house" vocalists for Victor. Other vocalists included Chick Bullock, Jackie Gale, Don Carrol, Pat Henry, Lee Russell, Cecil Bridge, and Bea Wain, who later went on to fame as vocalist for 'the old Dipsy-Doodler', - Larry Clinton and his Orch.
Chief arrangers were Bernie Green & Vic Schoen
1931-1932 band personnel
Trumpets: Sam Caspin, Red Hymie
Trombone: Pete Salemi
Saxes: Moe Cohen, Gabe Galinas, Joe Slone, Nat Brown
Piano: Joel Shaw
Guitar: Sal Sussman
Bass: Max Goodman
Drums: Smith Howard
Arrangements: Bernie Green

Kardos is still a favorite of big band fans; he recorded well and often for RCA Victor and the American Record Company.
Above notes on Gene Kardos courtesy of James B. Zerr

In 1924, pianist Mel Stitzel (b. Jan. 9, 1902 - d. Dec. 31, 1952) and Art Kassel co-composed the song "Doodle Doo Doo". (In 1926, Stitzel, who is best recalled for his work with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, also composed the well known Jazz song "The Chant".)

In the 1930s, Kassel switched from Jazz to "sweet" music, and while this latter orchestra was never very impressive, it did have an extremely loyal following and was quite popular with the dancing public. Art's wailing saxophone and syrupy voice put such songs as "Love Letters in the Sand" on the Hit Parade radio program, and kept his own 'Castles in the Air' radio program a national favorite throughout the 1930s. Another vocalist with the band was Gloria Hart, who later became a club singer, and also appeared on early television. Here's a photo of the Art Kassel 1944 Orchestra", with Kassel in the center and Gloria Hart next to him. (Photo is credited to the Hindsight label).

Other singers who appeared and/or recorded (RCA Victor) with the band included Grace Dunn, Jimmy Featherstone, Johnny Johnston, Thal Taylor, Billie Leach, Harvey Crawford, Norman Ruvell, Marian Holmes, and a three-piece vocal group, the Kassel Trio.

After Kassel's death in 1965 the orchestra continued to perform West Coast engagements.

[ Al Katz and his Kittens ]
né: Al Katzenberger
In the 1920's, Al formed his 'Kittens' in Kentucky. In the later 1920's and in the early 1930's, the band was based in Chicago, IL, USA. The band offered a great many 'novelty' type numbers, and they were quite popular.

Al Katz and his Kittens is the group for which he is best remembered, however, he made appearances under many different names. Katz remained an active bandleader in Chicago for many years. The band toured the midwest, and even reached the east coast, including New York City, for some of their recording sessions.Al's bands can be found on Columbia, RCA Victor and Gennett recordings.

Some of the sidemen that appeared with the band included: Joe Bishop, Greg Brown, Jerry Bump, Ray Kleemeyer, Eddie Kooden, Joe Magliatti, Fred Rollinson, George Schechtman, Jess Stacy, Lewis Storey.

The band's use of many different names held out the possibility of not only confusing the public, but music business insiders also. Some of Al's bookings were handled by MCA, among others. It was once reported that MCA executive Karl Kramer and Al Katz once had an interesting luncheon conversation. At that luncheon, it was discovered that MCA had arranged some dates for the band, under different names, never realizing that Al Katz was the actual leader.

Al remained active well into the late 1940's before disbanding.

[ Mickey Katz with His Orchestra ]
b. 1909, Cleveland, OH, USA, d. 1985
Here's a photograph of a young Mickey Katz, and another of Mickey Clowning, for the microphone. Mickey is recalled today as an ethnic (Jewish) comedian/vocalist rather than as a clarinetist or bandleader. (After his first band, the rest were basically studio orchestras.)His music was aimed at the young, upscale Jewish market.

As a child growing up in Cleveland, Mickey studied the clarinet, and while still in his teens was already playing with some of the local bands.In 1946,Spike Jones heard Mickey doing some comic routines and hired him. Subsequently, Mickey was heard on a great many of Spike's releases.

Eventually, executives at RCA Victor heard Mickey's parodies that combined Popular tunes of the day with Klezmer instrumentation and Yiddish stereotype lyrics, and deciding to take a chance released his first 'Single', - "Haim Afn Range" with "Yiddish Square Dance" on the "b" side.In the band was trumpeter Mannie Klein (another "City Slicker" alumnus later replaced by Ziggy Elman), a young Si Zentner on trombone, and Sam Weiss on drums. A studio orchestrator, Nat Farber, did the arrangements.In one month, the record sold over 30,000 copies

With rising success, Katz next organized a road show he called "The Borscht Capades." In the cast was Katz's own son, who would later achieve his own fame, as Joel Grey, in the film "Cabaret", that also starred Liza Minelli. Curiously, while"Borschtcapades" never actually played the real "borscht belt", his next revue, "Farfel Follies", did, and established him as a rising young star on the "Borscht Belt", or "Jewish Alps" (a famous resort area in the Catskill Mountains - a suburb of New York City - where many top entertainers often performed). Sadly, many of those great resorts have vanished. It was a wonderful 'learning ground' for young comedians and musicians).

In the 1950s, Katz again switched Record labels, joining Capitol with whom he would remain until his retirement in the late 1960s.His material never varied, - basically, Yiddish interpretations of Pop tunes of the day, although he did record one "straight" album "Mickey Katz at the U.N" and a comedy album entitled "The Katz Pajamas",-a collection of fairy tales spoken in fractured Yiddish.

The wonderful Black clarinetist, Don Byron released an album "Don Byron plays the music of Mickey Katz"(Elektra/Nonesuch), (Don was the lead clarinet player for Boston's well known 'Klezmer Conservatory Band'.)In the liner notes to his albumDon wrote:

      ... Mickey was a departure from earlier Yiddish entertainers and klezmer traditionalists. His lyrics
      contained few sentimental references to a romanticized "old country," but instead reflected
      contemporary Jewish-American life. His songs portrayed people who were in touch with both
      ethnic traditions and the consistently changing array of people, cultures and information
      that was, and is, America"

A partial listing of Mickey's releases (ca. 1950s) would include:
Mickey Katz And His Orchestra Capitol Records T298
    Come On-a My House
    Herring Boats
    Borscht Riders in the Sky
    Bagel Call Rag
    Kiss of Meyer
apiro, Bernstein and Co., Inc. New York,
NY, May 2, 1951. Sometimes
        called "The Duckworth Chant", it was written to aid in U.S. A
    Yiddish Mule Train
    Duvid Crockett
    Geshray of Devilde Kotchke
    She'll Be Coming 'Round the Katzkills
    The Baby, The Bubbe and You
    Sound Off (Did you know the Tune was composed by Willie L. Duckworth and Bernard V. Lentz,
         and published by Shapiro, Bernstein and Co., Inc. New York, NY, May 2, 1951. Sometimes
        called "The Duckworth Chant", it was written to aid in U.S. Army Close Order Drill.)
    C'est Si Bon (Ces Tzi Bon)

Katz Puts On The Dog -- Capitol Records T934
    Hey! Jealous Lover
    You're a Doity Dog
    Sweet and Gentle
    Moscovitz Ramble
    Paisach in Portugal
    Tico Tico
    Feet Up, Pat Him on the Pippick
    Schleppin' My Baby Back Home
    Nature Bocher
    Sin
    Schvitzburgh, Pennsylvania
    Murietta Hot Springs

Mish Mosh -- Capitol Records T799
    Sixteen Tons
    That's Morris
    Roiselle from Texas
    Tweedle Dee
    You Belong to Me
    Why Don't You Believe Me?
    I'm a Schlemiel of Fortune
    A Schmo is a Schmo
    Haim afen Range
    How Much Is That Pickle in the Window
    Don't Let the Schmaltz Get inYour Eyes

The Most Mishige -- Capitol Records T1102
    The Barber of Schlemiel
    The Poiple Kishke Eater
    Yiddishe Mambo
    Downtown Strutters' Ball
    Holidays (vocal by Joel Grey)
    Nudnick, the Flying Schissel
    Knish Doctor
    K'nock Around the Clock
    Rose Lovejoy of Paradise Alley - Male Ensemble
    Where is My Pants?
    Chinatown, My Chinatown
    Cheder Days
    It's A Michaye in Hawaiye

Katz Pajamas -- Capitol Records T1257
    Hansel and Gensel
    Little Red Rosenberg
    Fancy Herringer
    Yoshke and the Beanstalk
    Chinderella
    Wild Bill Hickop
    Moby Glick
    Bagel-Lox and the Tree Bears

Comin' Round the Katzkills -- Capitol Records W1307
    Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Good-bye)
    St. Looey Blues
    Vus is a Veib
    Hermendel's Koch-A-Lain
    Gehakte Mambo
    Tzoreador
    Chloya (Chloe)
    Old Black Smidgick
    I'm an Old Cowhand
    The Little White Knish That Cried
    The Briss
    Feudin' and Fightin'

The Borscht Jester -- Capitol Records ST1445(The liner notes are by Chico Marx.)
    Is There a Doctor In the House?
    Kosher Tidbits
    The Family Circle
    Katzkill Kapers
    Mazeltov and Vice Versa
    The Magic Carpet

Hello, Solly! -- Capitol Records W2731
   Other artists on it are Vivian Lloyd, Stan Porter and Larry Best.
    Is There a Doctor In the House?
    Kosher Tidbits
    The Family Circle
    Katzkill Kapers
    Mazeltov and Vice Versa
    The Magic Carpet

[ Al Kavelin Orch. ]
Theme Song: "Love Has Gone"
This operated in the 1930s. A nice 'sweet music' band with a great piano player that they just called "Carmen". Carmen Cavallaro would go on to have his own band.

[ Herbie Kaye Orch. ]
b. 1904, USA.d.May 11, 1944, USA.
Theme Song:"Violets"
né:Herbert Kaumeyer.
Here's a photo of the 1942 Herbie Kaye Band, while actually onstage and performing at the 'Lake Club' in Springfield, IL. in a small nightclub, -a scene so very typical of the 1930 - 1940 era. (Photo reproduced here courtesy of trumpeter Irvan Stumph, who was in the band at the time. ) And, here's the reverse side.Notice that the "girl" singer is named L-o-raine Day, - however close examination of the photo shows her not to be the same L-a-raine Day who was a famous Hollywood actress.

Herbie formed the band in the Chicago area during the early 1930's. The Band also played frequent engagements at such well known venues as the Blackhawk Restaurant in Chicago; the Santa Catalina Casino, Sebastians Cotton Club in Los Angeles, CA;Drake Hotel in Chicago,Lakeside, Denver; and the Mural Room of the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. etc. They also made at least one musical short for Paramount in 1937.

Vocalists: At one time or another the band had such vocalists as Ellen Conner; Wynne Fair, and a young Dorothy Lamour (née:Labmour). Wrapped in her now famous sarong, Dorothy appeared in the film 'Jungle Princess' in which she sang the song "Moonlight and Shadows".She left Herbie for good in 1937 to film "Hurricane" with co-star Jon Hall. Dorothy would later go on to fame as the sarong clad heroine in the Bob Hope/Bing Crosby "Road to..." films. Herb had married Dorothy in 1935, - and they were divorced in 1939.

Band Personnel (typically) included:
Leader: Herbie Kay
SAXES: Jim Williams, Dick Herschleder, Norm Weldon, Fuzzy Combs
TROMBONES: Charles Probert, Bill Lower, Ken Skersick
TRUMPETS: Ray Winegar, Ralph DeStefano
PIANO: Claude Kennedy
BASS: Jim Bishop
GUITAR: King Harvey
DRUMS: Bill Epple
Vocalists: Ellen Conner; Wynne Fair, Dorothy Lamour
Here is a rare photograph (from the Collection of Ken Skersick - Paradise, CA) of the Herbie Kay, orchestra.Mr. Skersick played in both the Herbie Kay and Cecil Golly bands.
Many thanks to Mr. Doug Booth for the above information on Herbie Kay.

[ Sammy Kaye Orch. ]
b. March 31, 1910, Lakewood, OH, USA.d. June 2, 1987, New York, NY, USA.
Theme Song:"Kaye's Melody"
Tag: Swing and Sway With Sammy Kaye
Here's a photo of Sammy Kaye, a Clarinetist, who graduated from Ohio University (Civil Eng'g).His first orch was in the Statler Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio, and used his "Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye" slogan.
Kaye knew precisely what type of sound he wanted and he drilled the orch intensely to get that sound. He got what he wanted but it is said that his extreme dictatorial attitude was detested by the band. At one time, virtually his whole band walked out on him.
His biggest hits were "Harbor Lights"; "Daddy"; and "It Isn't Fair" sung by his best vocalist Don Cornell. He used a successful gimmick to involve his audience with his band. He had a "So You Want to Lead a Band" routine, in which members of the audience were invited to come up on the stage, where Sammy would hand them a baton, and the "leader" could wave his baton while the band played.
Kaye retired to southern California and handed over the baton to Roger Thorpe, his first trumpet. A self-made business man, Sammy invested well in things such as Bowling Alleys; Publishing, and such. He was 77 years old when he died of Cancer.

[ Hal Kemp Orch ]
This file has been moved. Please 'click' on this Hfal Kemp Entry/a>, prompt to go directly to the new file.

[ Henry King Orch ]
Theme Song:A Blues Serenade

The band 'peaked' in the mid 30's as a 'society' orchestra. Just played the 'hotel rooms'.

[ Wayne King, the Waltz King. ]
No Further Info currently available.
Theme Song:"The Waltz You Saved for Me"

[ John Kirby Sextet ]
Tagline: "The Biggest Little Band in the World"
John was a bassist who had honed his craft in the Fletcher Henderson Orch. He also worked with both Chick Webb and the Lucky Millinder band. He formed his sextet in 1937 with such sidemen as Billy Kyle (piano); Buster Bailey (Clarinet); Charlie Shavers (trumpet); O'Neil Spencer (Drums) and Russell Procope (sax), all from the Lucky Millinder band.