Charlie Spivak and His Orchestra
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Trumpet player Charlie Spivak set up his own big band with the help of close friend Glenn Miller in Washington D.C. in 1940. His tag line (bestowed upon him by Miller himself) was "The Man who Plays the Sweetest Trumpet in the World". He featured arrangements by trombonist Nelson Riddle and by former band leader Sonny Burke. The band's theme song was "Star Dreams" and ballads were what the band did best. Spivak's first engagements were at Glen Island Casino where Miller first found fame. One of the saxophonists in that organisation was later destined to become a famous comedian: his name was Sid Caesar. Other notable sidemen over the years included bassist Jimmy Middleton, drummer Davey Tough, trumpet players Les Elgart and Lee Knowles, alto saxophonist Willie Smith, clarinettist Peanuts Hucko, pianist Dave Mann, guitarist Kenny White, drummer Alvin Stoller and Glenn Miller trombonists Paul Tanner and Frank D'Annolfo. Spivak also spotlighted several top flight vocalists: Garry Stevens, Irene Daye (who eventually became Mrs. Spivak), June Hutton (sister of bandleader Ina Ray) and the Stardusters vocal group (Glen Galyon, Curt Purnell, Dick Wylder and May McKim).
The Spivak band had long residencies at Cafe Rouge and at the Pennsylvania Hotel, also making prolific recordings for Viktor, Okeh and Columbia. During the war years, it was often featured on the "Coca Cola Parade of Spotlight Bands" and continued to flourish -- while many others were forced to break up -- throughout the 1950's and 60's.