The Washington times., 1938-06-13
Love in Swingtirne
By Tommy Dorsey and G.. D. LOTHIAN
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Continued from Local Page
siping a cup Of coffee in my Of
flee I heard a knock on the door
Come in" I said. The door
opened. 1t was Biff, but he
looked awfully brought down
now.
What's the matter, kidd" ]
asked. You look like you just
saw the boogie man"
Its Harriet Miss Cardale, 3"
he explained shyly. II thought
she would be pleased because
played with your band tonight,
but it was just the opposite. She
hates swing music more than
ever. She told me it was COM
mon and vulgar and cheap, and
1 don't know what else. We
had a big argument about it on
the way home"
How long have you known
her?" 1 asked. There was be-
ginning to take a fatherly inter-
est in this kid. There was some
thing sincere and innocent about
him that aroused my admira-
ton. And he could 1--WE that
licorice stick!
About four years, I guess
do you love each other?"
Boy. we certainly do. AS soon
as I can make enough money
to support us we plan to get
married. But where am get
ting in college? I'm studying
agriculture. but I'd prefer being
a musician"
And Harri Miss Cardale
doesn't understand your love for
swing music?" I asked.
She thinks there's something
wrong with me. I've tried to ex-
plain my feelings to her a hun
dred times, and show her how
beautiful swing can be. but she
can't see it. Tonight she asked
me if I wasn't outgrowing her.
She called my ambition just
lot of silly talk and fancy ideas
that don't fit me at ALL"
Maybe she's right" I said.
But if I could only make
enough money as a musician.
Mr.. Dorsey, then I could support
her and we could get married.
Can I really play swing, Mr..
Dorsey, or am I just kidding
MYSELF"
I didn't answer right away. I
watched him staring at me so
eagerly, leaning forward with
his whole body toward me. his
young hands gripping the arms
of the chair.
Yes, you do have a lot of
talent, Biff," I said, slowly.
His eyes lit up. Thanks. Mr..
Dorsey" he said, jumping up ex-
Nov I know I'm going
to be a swing musician. Moth
4AAS Sd44 oGOP me-
wait a minute, kid" I said,
reaching out and grasping his
arm. Maybe Harriet is right
when she says you ought to fin
ish school. How many years
more do you have to go to col
lege here?"
"A year more" he answered.
hurriedly. But it's a year too
much. I'm fed up with this place.
There's no life or excitement
here. hate the classes. the
professors, the books.
Outside of Harriet, the only
thing I love is my clarinet.
Every spare moment have I
give to my jazz music. My
strongest ambition is to be a
swing musician-like you, Mr..
Dorsey" he said, his eyes low
ering. And I will be one!" he
added fiercely.
why not wait a year and
then, if you still feel you want
to spend your life as a musician,
I'll try to find you a job. either
in my band or elsewhere"
The fact that you have even
that much confidence in me,
Mr.. Dorsey" he said, looking
into my eyes with all the en-
thusiasm of youth, "just gives
me that much more courage. I'm
through with being a student.
Il don't belong in school, any
way. I want to live the life Of a
musician, to be on Broadway,
know everybody. play the latest
songs. go round to all the jam
sessions. I want to be something
in this world. Could you give
me a job in your band, right
away, Mr.. Dorsey?"
I smiled indulgently. Hold
on there. Biff. you're moving too
fast for me. didn't say you
we're ready to be a professional
musician yet" Gle was ready,
but didn't want him to know