The Trials, Tribulations and Triumph of Bunny Berigan
"Marie" Composed by Irving Berlin; arranged(*) by Freddie Stulce. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on January 29, 1937 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, trombone, directing: Bob Cusumano, first trumpet; Jimmy Welch and Joe Bauer, trumpets; Les Jenkins and E.W. "Red" Bone, trombones; Freddie Stulce, first alto saxophone; Joe Dixon, alto saxophone;... Continue Reading →
The story: I am often amazed at the appearances today of Bunny Berigan's name and music in unexpected places. This is not a new phenomenon. In 1967, Bunny Berigan’s classic Victor recording of "I Can't Get Started" was used in a film short called The Big Shave, directed by Martin Scorsese. In the 1970s, two... Continue Reading →
"Sobbin' Blues" Composed by Art Kassel and Vic Berton; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on November 22, 1938 in New York. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Johnny Napton, first trumpet; Irving Goodman, trumpet; Ray Conniff, first trombone; Bob "Brad" Jenney, trombone; Arcuiso "Gus" Bivona, first alto saxophone and... Continue Reading →
"You Leave Me Breathless" Composed by Frederick Hollander (music) and Ralph Freed (lyric). Recorded privately on March 16, 1939 in New York with Lee Wiley singing, and Joe Bushkin accompanying her on piano. Note: This is a previously unreleased and largely unknown recording made by Lee Wiley. The story: This song was composed by Frederick Hollander... Continue Reading →
"Take My Heart" Composed by Joe Young and Fred Ahlert. Recorded by Freddie Rich and His Orchestra at the Paramount-Astoria Studio, Queens, New York on August 14, 1936. Freddie Rich, piano, directing: trumpets, left to right: Lloyd Williams, Nat Natoli, Bunny Berigan; trombones, left to right: Jerry Colonna, Larry Altpeter, Jack Lacey; reeds, left-to-right: Adrian Rollini, bass sax; Arnold... Continue Reading →
"I Cried for You" Music and lyric by Arthur Freed, Gus Arnheim and Abe Lyman. Arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on November 22, 1938 in New York. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Johnny Napton and Irving Goodman, trumpets; Ray Conniff and Bob Jenney, trombones; Murray Williams, bass clarinet... Continue Reading →
"How'd You Like to Love Me?" Composed by Burton Lane (music) and Frank Loesser (lyric); arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra live from the Paradise Restaurant in New York City on April 10, 1938. Bunny Berigan first and solo trumpet; directing: Steve Lipkins, Irving Goodman, trumpets; Sonny Lee, first trombone;... Continue Reading →
"Blue Lou" Composed by Edgar Sampson; arranged by Horace and Fletcher Henderson. (*) Recorded by the Metronome All-Star Band on January 12, 1939 in New York. Metronome All-Star Band: Bunny Berigan, Harry James, Charlie Spivak, Sonny Dunham, trumpets; Tommy Dorsey and Jack Teagarden, trombones; Hymie Shertzer, lead alto saxophone; Arthur Rollini and Eddie Miller, tenor saxophones; Benny Goodman,... Continue Reading →
The story: The interlude from early March until late August 1940, when Bunny Berigan was with Tommy Dorsey's band as its featured trumpet soloist, was a critical time for Berigan for a number of reasons. In late 1939 and into 1940, Bunny was hospitalized because the effects of cirrhosis on his liver and on his... Continue Reading →