Gail Reese (August 15, 1917 – April 13, 1998) was a big band vocalist during the 1930’s who although singing with some of the well known band leaders, never reached the popularity, fame or fortune as others from the same era.
Unfortunately there are many of the big band singers who although prolific in their recordings seem to bloom then suddenly as they appear they vanish without trace and hardly if all get a mention in the annals of popular music. Gail Reese sadly falls into this category. I have found many recordings of Gail yet she is only mentioned but a few times on the web.
Her internet trail starts when she is mentioned as being born as Virginia Vieser. Some sources give 1917 as her birth year and some 1924. There is no record of her early life or how she came into the music business, but by 1935 we find her singing with trombonist Mike Durso’s orchestra and nearly a year long association with Bunny Berigan in 1937.
She was with Glenn Miller during the summer of 1938 and was featured on the band’s first radio broadcasts over NBC from the Paradise Restaurant in New York City. Gail was replaced in September of ‘38 by Marion Hutton. In a program from June 20, 1938 Gail is heard on three songs: Why’d Ya Make Me Fall In Love, Doin’ The Jive and How Can You Forget. Coincidentally, Durso by that time had given up his band and was playing with Vincent Lopez, from whom Miller signed Hutton.
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| Gail Reese with Glenn Miller's Orchestra |
And that dear music lovers is all the information you get. Some critics say that Reese just lacked the musical assurance that the other song thrushes had and perhaps called it a day. I can only assume that she may of married and left the business for family life as some did, hence the sudden end of her career. Who can tell? The last news found was the announcement of her death on 13th April 1998 in a comment on a Glen Miller YouTube posting. No other confirmation found. Any other information will be greatly appreciated.
(Edited mainly from Band Chirps & Barry Papiernik)
Here’s a selected home-made compilation of 23 sides by Gail from mp3’s from Jazz-On-Line. Please be aware that the mp3’s were taken from various sources and will vary in quality.
ReplyDeleteSo for “Gail Reese – Sophisticated Swing (1937 – 1938)” go here:
https://krakenfiles.com/view/ne5q6s6W2W/file.html
01) Let 'Er Go
02) Turn On That Red Hot Heat
03) Why Talk About Love
04) Sweet vanity Sue
05) Ebb Tide
06) Have You Ever been In Heaven
07) I'd Love To Play A Love Scene
08) I Want A New Romance
09) Miles Apart
10) A Strange Loneliness
11) Piano Tuner man
12) Heigh Ho
13) Outside Of Paradise
14) Down Stream
15) Sophisticated Swing
16) Lovelight In The Starlight
17) Rinka Tinka man
18) An Old Straw Hat
19) I Dance Alone
20) Don't Wake Up My Heart
21) Why'd Ya Make Me Fall In Love
22) Sold Amrican
23) Dippermouth Blues
Tracks 1-19 with Bunny Berigan
Tracks 20 -23 with Glenn Miller
Thank you!
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ReplyDeleteBig thanks for keeping the music alive
ReplyDeletelike this music thank you so much - Aussie
ReplyDeleteFunny you should honor her with this tribute at the same time she became my only way of finding a top-notch performance of Gordon-Revel’s “An Old Straw Hat,” recorded with Berigan in 1938. Both broadcast and studio versions of her singing that song are available. Her voice is so quintessentially of that time. Thanks for saving me the time of researching her very brief career.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1936 Vitaphone short "Rhythmitis" Gail Reese sings "Tanglefeet" (starts at 7:12)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DWChABBHDms4&ved=2ahUKEwjqoZWo9MTyAhUO_rsIHT_RAagQo7QBegQIBRAF&usg=AOvVaw2_6-8ETW-enlsCyLh3mRwe
Wonderful movie clip. Thanks to unknown.
ReplyDeleteSweet vanity Sue = Sweet Varsity Sue
ReplyDeletehttps://www.discogs.com/release/11944054-Bunny-Berigan-His-Orchestra-Sweet-Varsity-Sue-Why-Talk-About-Love
Well spotted Kyser. Typo from tired eyes. Regards Bib.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be a surprise but Gail Reese is actually my great grandmother. I was going through an old scrapbook from her that belongs to my grandmother when I first learned about her and decided to see if there was anything on her. I'll see if I can find any definitive information for you!
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