Laurel outlook., 1945-06-13

America has reached a new era
in music, an era in which true
American music whether it be jazz,
swing or folk songs, really will come
into its own. Such is the opinion
of Jean Goldkette, Detroit orchestra
leader. He holds that this country
now is at the same musical period
as was Russia in 1860 when Rubin
stein appeared on the scene and or
ganized the Imperial orchestra,
symphonies and Conservatives.
Russian talent thus was given a
chance to express itself and as a
result, within a half century, Rus
sian music dominated the world.
America today, largely through ra-
dio and recordings, is the worlds
greatest music-loving nation. Given
proper opportunity, Goldkette con-
tinued, American music, in its full
color and idiom, will become known
to the world and will form an essen
tial part of the worlds music.
American music has been handi-
capped by lack of opportunity for
expression. Goldkette informed me
as we e lunching in the Hunting
room of the Hotel Astor. In the be-
ginning, jazz orchestras were small
affairs with only 8 or 4 players. Now
they have grown to IA or Is players.
But to present American music in
its true idiom and color, large or
CARNATIONS are necessary. America
has excellent musical organizations,
almost every city of any size having
its symphony. But the symphonies
are trained in the classical tradi-
ton - hence they cannot present
popular American music in it's true
form. With his 55-piece orchestra,
heard on the Mutual network on Sat-
urday nights, Goldkette believes he
has made a start. The orchestra is
composed of members of the De-
troit Symphony orchestra but under
the Goldkette baton they play swing.
up until a few years ago, an
American singer had absolutely no
chance at the Metropolitan Opera
continued Goldkette. HE or
she had to come from La Scala or
merely to get an addition.
American singers are COM
ing into their own in grand operas
and opera has not suffered in the
slightest. The same thing holds true
With American music. Our SYM
ohony ~orchestras have been giving
Brahms, Beethoven, Bach and the
others. That is right since they are
organized and trained for such mu-
nc. But given the proper vehicle, it
be the same with true American
music. That is the belief of Henry
Reichhold, president of the De-
rolt Symphony, also-a belief so
strong that he is backing my band"
Curiously enough, this ardent dev-
tee of American music was
french born. But very early, Gold
,ette, who is now an American citi-
en-, became an advocate of music
# this country. In 1915, in New Or
cans, he formed the Dixieland Jazz
and, the %forerunner of many such
rchestras. In 1920, Charles Hughes
rought him to Detroit from Chi
ago to play at the Detroit Athletic
Tub. He rose rapidly in musical
rominence and at one time had %
ands of his own. "Goldkette alum
i" are scattered all over the coun-
ry and many have gone high in
heir profession. Among them are
ommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Russ
1organ, Joe Venuti, Victor Young
now Paramount music directory,
Woolcott, (Walt Disney mu-
ical directory and many others. The
lte Blk Beiderbeck, the great trum-
ct player, around whose life
Young Man with a Horn was writ
m, also was once a Jean Goldkette
Through listening to Betty Craig
r~terviewing Evelyn Stefanson, wife
the famous Arctic explorer, Viii
Stefanson, on station WIZ
le other day, I learned that Eski-
los don't live in igloos but in sod
made with ribs of whales;
lat Alaskan winters are no worse
an those of South Dakota, and
at the nights in Alaska are not six
onths long. Also that Fairbanks
i'd Juneau, the chief cities, have
ore theaters, movies and restau-
lnts than any city the same size
the United States and that Alas
has more natural resources
the Scandinavian countries.
Mrs. Stefanson said further that