Abe Lyman Orchestra

Biography

Lyman (real name Abraham Simon Lymon) began as a drummer in Chicago cinema pits before setting up his first dance band in Santa Monica, California, in 1922. By the time he joined ASCAP seven years later, he had become one of the most popular society orchestra conductors and composers on the West Coast. Abe Lyman and His Californians were based at the Cocoanut Grove Ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel where they remained in residence until 1926. The band had recording contracts with Decca, Brunswick and Bluebird and was featured on several sponsored radio shows, notably NBC's 'Waltz Time'. Lyman's theme songs were "California, Here I Come" and "Moon Over America". His music remained in demand well into the mid-1940s, due primarily to Lyman's organisational skills and his knack for hiring top class musicians. Members of his various orchestras have included Billy Bauer (g), Si Zentner (tb), Ray Heath (tb), Bill Clifton (p), Ray Lopez (tp), Jimmie Grier (cl/comp), Jack Pleis (p/arr), Yank Lawson (tp), Gus Arnheim (p), Teddy Powell (g/arr), Frank Parrish (g), Howard Fenimore (tp), Carmen Cavallaro (p), Fred Ferguson (tp), Charlie Pierce (s), Al Baker (cl/as), Gussie Mueller (cl), Ted Dale (p), Wolff Tannenbaum (s), Murray Gaer (d), Gary Gillis (d), Jim Welton (cl/as), Horace Smith (tp), Warren Smith (tb), Red Pepper (tp), Joe Turi (tb), Al Sandow (tp), Don Moore (tp), Bill Clark (tp), Frank Bruno (tp), George Greeley (p), Gil Bowers (p), Al Pollack (tp), Louis Rapp (cl/as), Orlando Martin (tb), Tommy Macey (cl/ts), Ed Landry (b), Horace Keyes (cl/ts), Jake Garcia (b), Al Newman (p) and Arthur Most (tb). Violinists included Dave Fink, Marty Gold, Dave Herman, Al Rickey, Harry Podalsky and John Schonberger. Lyman employed numerous vocalists, among them Rose Blaine (Mrs. Lyman), Gracie Barrie, Frank Sylvano, Dick Robertson, Billy Sherman, Phil Neely, Smith Ballew, Barry Wood, Sonny Schuyler, Scrappy Lambert, Ella Logan, Harlan Lattimore, Frank Luther, Frank Munn, Les Reis, Helen Rowland, Olga Sardi, Paul Small, Tony Wolfe and Marvin Warner.