In 1924, the Georgia Melodians had a steady gig playing at the Cinderella Ballroom at 48th and Broadway in NYC. The NY Clipper wrote of the Melodians on April 3, 1924:
“This is the ‘hot’ combination at the Cinderella and although secondary to the Paul Van Loan aggregation in importance they are preferred by many because of their snappy rhythm. It is more of a dance hall band to begin with. They make no pretext at lofty arrangements but play dance music for dance hounds.”
They were advertised as being “of Atlanta, Georgia”, though according to the liner notes of the Timeless Records release, “a note in the Edison files states they were from Savannah, Georgia.” In 1923 the band had made their way up the Eastern seaboard playing dates in North Carolina and Virginia before landing in NYC in 1924.
In September of 1924 they left the Cinderella, (replaced by Bix and The Wolverine Orchestra!) to take a more upscale gig at the Strand Roof playing with Henri Gendron’s Orchestra. It was at this time, at the peak of their successful run in New York, that they entered the studio to record this track.
By the end of the year, the band had broken up.
0:00 Intro
0:35 Main theme
1:08 Trumpet solo
1:25 Muted Trumpet solo
1:40 Ensemble
2:04 Main theme reprised
2:36 Piano solo
2:52 Clarinet and Trumpet duet
3:08 Outro
Recorded in New York City on September 24, 1924.
Released as Edison 51412.
Credits
Charles Boulanger – violin, director
Ernie Intlehouse, Mickey Bloom – trumpet
Herb Winfield – trombone
Merritt Kenworthy – clarinet
Clarence Hutchins – tenor sax, baritone sax
Oscar Young – piano
Elmer Merry – banjo
Unknown performer – tuba
Carl Gerold – drums
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