Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1953-02-21
TheatriicaIIy
Yours

seems that Joe Davis, new A & r
executive of MGM Records rhythm
and blues department, has a big
one out of his first eight releases.
It's you're Mine" by the Crickets.
MGM's New York distributors have
ordered heavily on this one and it
has also been shot" in Philadel-
phia, Boston, Detroit, Cleveland
and throughout the solid south.
Melvin Clark, the fabulous one,
was in town last week from Gin
cinnati. Melvin took in the Beaux
Arts Ball. He's one of the big wigs
of the Cincinnati Leader. That pa
per's editor, Bill Brown, was in
town at the same time :. Charlie
Fuqua and his New Inkspots are
breaking it up at the Hi Hat Club
in Boston Duke Ellington is
still at the Band Box on Broad
way. This reporter saw his almost
new band and, my opinion is that
the Duke isn't the great Duke"
of old. His band is just another
swing band, or so it seems to me.
For years Duke was my favOrite
because his music was always on
the highest plane, but now that's
gone, especially with Johnny
Hodges, Lawrence Brown and that
great drummer, Sonny Greer out
of his band. To my way of think
ing, Sonny gave the band that
something" that no other drum
mer could grasp.
MGM Records through its pub
licity head, Sol Handwerger, threw
a press party for its new star, Joni
James backstate of Broadway's
Paramount Theatre, where Joni is
currently appearing. The party was
a great success and the gentlemen
of the fourth estate put their
stamp Of approval on the gal of
"Why Don't You Believe Me" fame.
Now Joni has another big one on
the MGM label. It's my Cheating
Heart"
The publisher of Laugh" is a
waiting the release of the record
by King Records, for full scale
promotion and coverage. So, Henry
Glover of King Records, get on
the ball' for your boy . Be on
the lookout for the new version on
King Records of Tiny Bradshaw's
"Soft" with words by Henry Glow
er. Henry also does the fine vocal
on this one.
Bandleader Buddy Johnson cele-
brated the 10th anniversary of his
ork at the Savoy Ballroom recent
ly Louie Jordan set for Chica-
go's Regal Theatre during Easter
week .. MGM Records has bought
some of Sarah Vaughan's records
from the old Musicraft label. These
numbers are set to MGM album.
They are, "Tenderly," "If You
Could See Me Now, Don't Blame
Me-, "I'm Through With Love-,
"Once in a While, Don't Worry
Bout Me-, 81 Cover The Water
front" and "The Man | Love"
This Easter Tin Pan Alley is
predicting that a new tune will go
over big with the pigtail set. It's
called, CROWN Easter Bunny
It's simple and clean . The UN
has nothing on MGM Records when
it comes to universal representa-
ton. When Joe Roland left the
George Shearing Quintet he was
replaced by Cal Yjader of Sweden
at the vibraphone, giving George
one of the most remarkably inter
national CONDOS in the world.
Sammy Davis, Jr., lead member
of the Will Mastin Trio vaude act,
will debut on wax with new label.
Davis first sides will be "The Gym
sy in My Soul" and "Who Needs
Spring" Benny Goodman has
formed a new band with his old
sidemen, Teddy Wilson, Gene Kru-
pa, Charlie Shavers, Ziggy Elman,
Billy Butterfield. Vernon Brown,
George Aud and Henelm Ward
do the vocal Billy Taylor still
clicking at the Copa Johnny
Hodges and DIRK back in New York,
recording Herb Lance wrote
the Ruth Brown chit" "Mama" -.
Ruth clicked at Baltimore's Royal
Theatre two weeks ago Betty
McLaurin is going great on Coral
Records. She's rapidly pushing her
way to the top . . Babs Gonzales
vacationing =. Don Abbey is one
of the nations best pianists. He's
appearing at Broadway's Down
beat Lucille Dixon's DIRK at the
Villages Club in Savannah, Ga.
Fred Norman is one of the nations
top arrangers.
-O-----