[ Sonny Lester and his Orchestra ]
b. November 15, 1924, Boston, MA, USA.
Overview:
Sonny Lester and his orchestra produced some of the most classic big band music of the time. He also was a producer of big band, Jazz and Easy Listening albums. Lester began his music career as a trumpet player in several big bands including the US Maritime Band in 1942. In 1943, he was drafted into the U. S. Army. As a combat soldier in the infantry, he was wounded in Belgium and received the 'Purple Heart' in 1944. His wounds put an end to his trumpet playing career. Still wanting to be involved with the New York musical scene, he went the route of record producer and later as a band leader and owner of various record companies.

He got his start when the 'Edwin H. Morris Music Publishing Company' published his book and phonograph record, "Play or Sing Along with the NBC Rhythm Section". The record was a smash hit. After this success, he joined 'Coral Records' as A&R Director of Jazz Recording and Pop Artists. Subsequently, Lester joined 'Dot Records', bringing with him a roster of artists with whom he first introduced the 'New York Town Hall' concerts (sponsored by the record company for promotional purposes). This was one of the many concerts produced by Sonny Lester during this time period. Included among Lester's recording projects for Dot were 'The Mills Brothers', 'The Fontaine Sisters', and Clara Ward, among others.

In 1956, he partnered with famed radio "disk jockey' Al "Jazzbo" Collins, producing concerts at the 'Brooklyn Academy of Music', as well as 13 weeks of NBC network programs for the US Air Force entitled "Sound Flight 56". In 1959, Lester joined the new J. Arthur Rank affiliate, 'Top Rank/Rank of America Records'. Within a few short months Lester had generated enormous successes for his fledgling label with Chart successes and multi-million sellers, including 3 top ten records with Jack Scott, 'The Fireballs' and 'The Knightsbridge Strings'. Lester had developed close and lasting relationships with Artie Shaw, Raymond Scott, Buddy Rich and George Auld based on this success and his other interests.

In the early 1960's, Lester, deciding to broaden his own base, became a totally independent producer for all the major labels as well as other smaller companies. He also became a producer of radio and television commercials, and also contributed varying material to 'Time Magazine's' "After Hours" series, to the Roulette "strip albums", and to MGM's 'Fantabulous Strings' albums. He expanded into commercials, producing radio and TV ads, including a very successful series of Buick commercials for the McCann-Erickson agency. His chief arranger through most of his time was Manny Albam. Lester also produced for MGM's 'Budget Line', recording (in France, at Eddie Barclay's studio) easy listening, rock and roll and other material for the MGM and Lion labels.

Notwithstanding all this, Sonny Lester may perhaps be best known for his really great band music on numerous "strip" and belly dance albums for the Roulette label. During his long-standing contract with Roulette Records, he produced such very successful records as "How to Strip for Your Husband", -inspired by burlesque queen Ann Corio. The provocative "strip" and belly dance albums featured cut after cut of very jazzy, erotic sounds and arrangements. This led to five more Roulette records. One of the best was "After Hours: Middle East", with Urbie Green playing "Rebecca from Mecca" and "Port Suez". The music was written by Lester and was considered one of the great band albums of the time.

In 1966, Lester, Phil Ramone and music director Manny Albam, joined United Artists, where they headed a new jazz subsidiary label, "Solid State" and produced a series of records with such well known Jazz artists as Chick Corea, Joe Williams, Ruth Brown, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Jimmy McGriff, Dizzy Gillespie and many others. These recordings, produced by Lester, are still (2007) available on the market, and are still widely acclaimed as classics of the record industry. Many have been nominated for Grammy Awards.

In 1969, Lester toured 14 European cities with an 'All Star' package. The tour ended at Royal Festival Hall in London to much critical acclaim. The entire tour was recorded for United Artists and was released on UA as "Jazz Wave 69". The artists included Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Kenny Burrell, Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson.

Lester's career as a Concert Producer included many famous venues and artists: 1970, Thad Jones Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra with Jimmy McGriff and Jeremy Steig at the Royal Festival Hall in London; 1974, Jimmy McGriff, Dakota Staton, Dizzy Gillespie, Rueben Wilson, Billy Taylor and Groove Holmes at the Chicago Auditorium; 1975 Buddy Rich, Carmen McRae and Jimmy McGriff at Madison Square Garden are examples. Lester's 50 or more concert productions were all recorded and have been a contributing factor in his catalog's success.

Lester received a Grammy award Nomination for the recording of "Jazz For a Sunday Afternoon" with Dizzy Gillespie, and Chick Corea, recorded live at the Village Vanguard (a New York city club). Many "Live At The Village Vanguard" sessions were recorded, always with great performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Buddy Rich and Carmen McRae.

In 1972 Lester formed "Groove Merchant Records". "Groove Merchant" evolved to become Lester's new label, "LRC", "Lester Recording Catalog" with Laserlight and Naxos labels. The LRC catalog produces CD's for the domestic and international markets of classic jazz recordings. LRC is recognized throughout the world as a major Jazz and Blues label.

A partial listing of Sonny Lester music and recordings would include:
        "How to Belly Dance for Hubby", Roulette, SR-42066
        "How to Belly Dance for Your Husband", Roulette SR-25202 (re-issued on SR-42021)
        (With Ann Corio) More How to Strip for Your Husband", Roulette SR25224
        "More How to Belly Dance for Hubby", Roulette SR-25225
        "Little Egypt", Roulette, SR-42021
        "Hawaiian Album", Colpix SCP-457
        "After Hours: Paris", Time S2093
        "After Hours: Spain", Time S2094
        "After Hours: Italy", Time S2095
        "After Hours: Middle East", Time S2096
        (With Ann Corio) "How to Strip for Your Husband", Roulette SR-25186
        "Music to Keep Your Husband Happy", Roulette SR-42108
        "This Was Burlesque" (Original Cast), Roulette SR-25185
        "Modern Dance Band Sounds of Country & Western Hits", Roulette SR-25190
        "For Strippers Only" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Shivas Regal" (Theme For Gypsy) - Sonny Lester & Orchestra
        "A Pretty Girl is Like A Melody" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Lament" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Blues To Strip By" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Walkin' & Strippin'" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Bumps & Grinds" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Lonely Little G-String" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Big Millie From Philly" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "The Late Late Show" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Perfume And Pink Chiffon" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Swingin' Shepherd Blues" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Lullaby Of Birdland" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "More Bumps And Grinds" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Strip Poker" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Stripper's Holiday" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "A Woman" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Play The Blues For Masie" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "How Mable Get Sable Cha Cha Cha" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Rebecca From Mecca" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Port Suez" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "The Unveiling" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Cad Of Baghdad" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
        "Salome's Veil" - Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
The Big Bands Database is indebted to Mr. Jim Cordasco, a good friend of Sonny Lester, for his help with this Lester entry.

   [ Arthur Lange & His Orchestra ]
b. April 16, 1889, d. Dec. 7, 1956 Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Overview:
This American composer, songwriter, author, arranger and conductor, received his early music training from private instructors. In time, he would lead his own orchestra, and arrange for the Broadway musicals.. In 1929, he first became head of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer music department and subsequently worked for other film studios. In 1947, he formed the 'Santa Monica Civic Symphony', and led the group until 1956

Lange was proficient on both piano and banjo, but, curiously, seems to have acted only as conductor and arranger on his band's recording dates (except for his 1922 "Lange Trio" recording). His 1923 orchestra, was playing at New York's 'Cinderella Ballroom' on Broadway, and he was also prodigously recording for the Cameo Records label. One writer has noted that the band included "hot" trumpeters Earl Oliver and Tommy Gott,

Near the end of 1923, a rich young kid, Roger Wolfe Kahn, bought Lange's orchestra, which then continued to record under the Arthur Lange name until March 1925, when Kahn began recording for Victor under his own name. (Actually, Roger's father, millionaire banker Otto Kahn, purchased the Lange orchestra as an indulgence for his son.) In 1928, Kahn began recording for Pathé Records. Caution. Do not let Roger Wolfe Kahn's wealth mislead you, - he was an excellent musician.

As mentioned, while leading his own band, and recording, he was also active for the Broadway stages.
     March 18, 1914 - April 4, 1914, contributed original songs to show 'Maids of Athens'
     March 19, 1920 - June 26, 1920, orchestrator for show 'What's in a Name?
     Sept. 2, 1920 - Nov. 6, 1920, orchestrator for show 'Little Miss Charity'
     March 15, 1921 - June 4, 1921, orchestrated music for show 'The Right Girl'
     June 19, 1923 - Dec. 1, 1923, music show 'Helen of Troy' orchestrated by Lange.
     July 5, 1923 - Dec. 29, 1923, orchestrator for show 'Earl Carroll's Vanities' [1923]
     July 18, 1923 - July 28, 1923, orchestrator for show ' Fashions of 1924'
     Oct. 3, 1927 - Jan 7, 1928, orchestrator for show 'Sidewalks of New York'

Working in the Hollywood studios, Lange was the music arranger for one of the very first "talkies", --'The Hollywood Revue of 1929'.   Lange's score for the fim was orchestrated by Ray Heindorf (b. August 25, 1908, Haverstraw, NY, USA, d. Feb. 3, 1980, Tarzana, CA, USA. Heindorf later composed the hit song, "Some Sunday Morning" -Ada Jones -Billy Murray duet). By the end of his career, Lange had composed music for over 120 films, and shared an Oscar nomination with Hugo Friedhofer for the film 'The Woman in the Window'. He was also nominated for his work on the film 'Lady of Burlesque'. All told, he was nominated four times for Oscars but never won.

Lange went on to help such stars as Barbara Stanwyck -for the film 'Banjo on My Knee' Barbara Stanwyck also starred in the film, 'Lady Of Burlesque', based on the novel "The G String Murders" written by famed "strip tease" artist Gypsy Rose Lee (actually ghostwritten by Craig Rice). The film had original music by Harry Akst, Sammy Cahn and Arthur Lange, and in 1944, the film garnered an Oscar nomination for 'Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture'. Among the others whom Lange helped are Tony Curtis (for the film: Beachhead), Vincent Price (for the film: The Mad Magician), Edward G. Robinson (for the film: The Woman in the Window), and William Powell (for the film: The Great Ziegfeld).

Arthur Lange was the father of screen actress Hope Lange ( Nov. 28, 1933, Redding Ridge, Connecticut, USA, d. Dec. 19, 2003, Santa Monica, California, USA (ischemic colitis infection). née: Hope Elise Ross Lange

   [ Henry Lange & His Orchestra ]
b: 1895, Toledo, Ohio, USA. d.
Composer, songwriter ("Hot Lips"), conductor and pianist, educated in public schools and a private music student of Arthur Kortheur, Max Ecker and Herman Wasserman. He was a pianist in the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and made a European tour between 1920 and 1924. The following year, he formed his own orchestra and was appointed the music director for Baker Hotels in Texas, and toured in vaudeville. In 1936, he was the director of a radio station

  "Mood Indigo", (514 kb): Rec'd: Champion 1931: Henry Lange & His Music - Mood Indigo (Ellington),