The Big Bands and Other OTR Music

Also visit the Big Band Music BBS. Your hosts: Connie and Hank Hinkel.

Most authorities feel the Big Band Era thrived from 1935 to 1945. This time period was the peak of interest in the Big Bands. However, Hank feels the Big Band Era started in 1925 and lasted to about 1955. The first 10 years (1925-1935) were the formative years where bands experimented with music and exposed the public to this form of entertainment. The second 10 years (1935-1945) were when the public desired this form of entertainment. The last 10 years (1945-1955) saw the decline in interest and the demise of many bands. Glenn Miller had the most famous of the military service bands. When he heard of "known" musicians that had been inducted into the service, he would request to have them transferred to his Army Air Force Orchestra. Glenn Miller probably had the biggest dance band there was populated with the best musicians available in the service. After the war ended in 1945 and the GIs came home, the focus was on marriage, raising families and buying homes. They did not have much money to spend on entertainment. Slowly the singers emerged and the bands started to decline. Some of the big name bands held on through the years, but many of the lessor known and other big name bands dropped out of sight. During the late 40's and early 50's, some new bands emerged and were commercially successful, especially among the college crowd but the ERA had passed and the BANDS were never to be a BIG item they once were.

Here is a list of many of the Big Bands, for those of you that remember their music as fondly as do Connie and Hank. If there is a button after the band name, click on it for a short RealAudio® musical memento. (Analog music clips courtesy of Crabapple Sound)