Isham Jones' Orchestra

Biography

Composer, conductor, pianist and prolific recording artist Jones started his first band in Chicago in 1919 and joined ASCAP in 1924. He was one of the first bandleaders to sign with the Music Corporation of America. He went on to have recording contracts with Brunswick, Victor and Decca. Until the mid-40s, his band performed in vaudeville, at the Kit Kat Club in London and at numerous clubs, hotels and ballrooms across the United States. Many of the songs recorded were written by Jones himself. Hits included "Swinging Down the Lane", "Thanks for Everything", "It Had to be You", "I'll See You In My Dreams", "On the Alamo","The Wooden Soldier and the China Doll", "1*11 Never Have to Dream Again", "I Can't Believe It's True", "Why Can't this Night Go on Forever", "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else", "You've Got Me Crying Again", "No Greater Love", "More Than Ever" and "My Best to You." His vocalists were Eddie Stone, Frank Sylvano, Billy Scott, Arthur Jarrett, Carolina Lane, Rita Smith, Frank Hazzard, Joe Martin, Bob Carter and (famously) Woody Herman. His better-known sidemen over the years included Joe Bishop (arr), Sonny Lee (tb), Red Ballard (tb), Clarence Willard (tp), Johnny Carlson (tp), Earle Hagen (tb), Saxey Mansfield (ts), Jack Jenney (tb), Pee Wee Erwin (tp), George Thow (tp), Howard Smith (p), Gordon Jenkins (arr), Louis Panico (tp/c), Roy Bargy (p), Frank Quartell (tp), Carroll Martin (tb), Artie Vanasek (as), Al Eldridge (p), Charles McNeil (banjo), Joe Miller (banjo), John Kuhn (tuba), Joseph Frank (d), Gus Haenschen (p), Arthur Layfield (d), Leo Murphy (vl), Wendell De Lory (tb), Walter Yoder (b), Vic Halpric, Don Watt (cl/as), Milt Yaner (cl/as), Dan Yates (v), Frankie Trumbauer (c), Tom Stacks (d), George Wartner (g), George Walters (tp), Hal Smith (p), Andy Sindelar (tb), Tony Zimmers (cl/ts), Tommy Satterfield (p), Billy Richards (ts), Harry Reser (banjo), Pierre Olker (b), Al Mauling (cl), Miff Mole (tb), Wally Lageson (d), Bobby Lee Jones (tp), Johnny Dillard (tp), Bud Graham (tb), Alfie Evans (cl/as/vl), Russ Jenner (tb), Roy Johnston (tp), Larry Abbott (cl/as), Ward Archer (d), Rube Bloom (p), Gil Bowers (p), Guy Carey (tb), Nick Hupfner (vl), Harold "Whitey" Moeller (tp), Jiggs Noble (p/arr), Dusty Rhodes (v), Chelsea Quealey (tp), Jacques Blanchette (vl/g) and Louis Cassagne (b).