George Olsen (18 March 1893 - 18 March 1971) was an American
band-leader who had one of the country's most popular dance bands during the
1920s.
George interviewed on the RCA radio in 1926 |
Broadway, appearing in Kid Boots, the Ziegfeld Follies of 1924, and Good News.
George Olsen and his Music were prolific Victor recording
artists and their records are among the most numerous found by record
collectors today, testifying to their original popularity. Olsen signed with
Victor in 1924 and remained as one of Victor's most popular bands until 1933
when he signed with Columbia. He became a rival to the top-rated orchestras of
Paul Whiteman and Fred Waring. Olsen's most successful recording was the 1925
smash hit, "Who?", and was followed by many others including,
"Lucky Day", "Do Do Do", "Varsity Drag", and
"Doin' the Racoon".
The 1926 Olsen Orchestra had such members as George Olsen:
violin, Red Pepper: trumpet, Chuck Campbell: trombone, Dick Stable: clarinet
and alto sax, Ed Killfeather: piano, Jack Hansen: Tuba, and others unknown.
He and his orchestra were in Eddie Cantor's 1928 Broadway
hit Whoopee!, and in the 1930 movie version. Olsen's bands, though excellent,
produced few stars. Singer-saxophonist Fred MacMurray passed through in 1930 on
his way to eventual movie stardom, recording a vocal on I'm in the Market for
You. Olsen's long-time alto saxist and singer, Fran Frey, with his distinctive,
reedy bass-baritone, was perhaps the best known Olsenite until he left in 1933
for a career as a music director in radio.
Another of Olsen’s female singers was Ethel Shutta, who
later became Mrs George Olsen. Ethel, was his wife for many years, -from the
Ziegfield Broadway show, 'Whoopee' until the late 1930s, when they divorced and
she married George Kirksey, a sports writer for NEA. Olsen was Jack Benny's
first orchestra leader when Benny began his weekly show for Canada Dry on radio
in 1931.
George Olsen and Ethel Shutta
|
On May 17, 1940, the Olsen orchestra appeared on the stage
of The Lyric Theatre of Indianapolis (Indiana), with 'The Bachelors' vocal
group, consisting of Bob Rice, Ronnie Mansfield, and Jack Clifford.
After his 1951 retirement from band leading, George Olsen opened a successful restaurant in Paramus, New Jersey where his old recordings were played as the background music.
He ran it for many years before he died there on March 18, 1971 (aged 78.) (Info various sources, mainly Wikipedia)
After his 1951 retirement from band leading, George Olsen opened a successful restaurant in Paramus, New Jersey where his old recordings were played as the background music.
He ran it for many years before he died there on March 18, 1971 (aged 78.) (Info various sources, mainly Wikipedia)
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For “George Olsen – Beyond The Blue Horizon” go here:
http://www82.zippyshare.com/v/Xg34nWYG/file.html
1. Beyond The Blue Horizon
2. Sunny
3. Who?
4. Always
5. Horses
6. The Girl Friend
7. Lucky Day
8. Do-Do-Do
9. Someone To Watch Over Me
10. Blue Skies
11. Where's That Rainbow?
12. At Sundown, When Love Is Calling Me Home
13. Good News
14. The Best Things In Life Are Free
15. The Varsity Drag
16. Because My Baby Don't Mean Maybe Now
17. Just Like A Melody From Out Of The Sky
18. Doin' The Raccoon
19. A Precious Little Thing Called Love
20. Makin' Whoopee!
21. Lullaby Of The Leaves
22. Listen To The German Band
23. Lou'siana Lullaby
24. The Last Round-Up
A big thank you to Marty @ The Vintage Music Blog for original link.
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