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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMARTIN, Freddy(b 9 Dec. '06, Cleveland, OH; d 1 Oct. '83) Tenor sax, bandleader. Grew up in orphanage, playing drums in band there; played sax at Ohio State U with student group booked as off-night replacement for Guy Lombardo; played with various bands and formed own band '31--2; gigs at Brooklyn's Hotel Bossert and Manhattan's Roosevelt Grill; recorded as 'Hotel Bossert Orchestra' on Columbia '33, other records under several names incl. Bunny Berigan's. The Martin hits began on Brunswick '33--6, then Bluebird and Victor: the band became one of the most popular sweet dance bands, not far behind Lombardo's, with more than 80 hit records until well into the '50s, Martin's playing earning him designation 'Mr Silvertone'. Vocalists incl. trombonist/arranger Russ Morgan in early days, Merv Griffin '48--52 (b 6 July '25, San Mateo CA; later built empire as TV host), many more in between. 'I Saw Stars'/'Then I'll Be Tired Of You' was big two-sided hit '34, also 'Isle Of Capri' '35, 'The Hut-Sut Song' '41 (vocal by Eddie Stone), then huge no. 1 hit '41: instrumental 'Piano Concerto In B Flat' on Tchaikovsky's most famous tune featuring pianist Jack Fina (b 13 Aug. '13, Passaic NJ, d 14 May '70; formed own band '46, recorded for Mercury, MGM; also composer). Same year Martin also reached top ten with 'Tonight We Love', same tune with words by Bobby Worth. Further mining of 'classical' tunes incl. 'Grieg Piano Concerto' '42, 'Bumble Boogie' '46 with Fina (from Rimsky-Korsakoff's 'Flight Of The Bumblebee'), 'Sabre Dance Boogie' '48 (by Khachaturian); also 'Warsaw Concerto' '43, by Richard Addinsell (1904--77) for UK film Dangerous Moonlight (US title: Suicide Squadron), a two- sided hit with 'From Twilight 'Til Dawn' (vocal by Bob Haymes). Other Billboard no. 1 hits incl. 'Symphony' '45 (lovely European song of that year, vocal by Clyde Rogers), 'To Each His Own' '46 (a big song that year, also a hit for Eddy Howard, the Ink Spots, Tony Martin, the Modernaires) and 'Managua, Nicaragua' '47. Martin's version of the novelty 'I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts' made the top ten '48, eventually sold a million. The band appeared in films The Mayor Of 42nd Street '42; Hit Parade Of 1943, Seven Days' Leave, Stage Door Canteen, What's Buzzin' Cousin?, all '43; Melody Time '48. Last hits '53--4 with 'April In Portugal' and 'Lonesome Polecat' (from film Seven Brides For Seven Brothers). Remained a popular leader, with gigs at LA Coconut Grove from '38 until venue changed hands '60s; semi-retired '70s, still occasionally at Las Vegas hotels etc; fronted Lombardo's band '77 when Guy was hospitalized. LPs on Capitol '50s incl. Concerto!, Salute To The Smooth Bands, C'mon Let's Dance, As Time Goes By. |