Phil's band revisited

[LLeff]

Hey kids,

Let's revisit that question about the names of Phil's band members. Can anyone come up with more than those listed below?

Frankie Remley (guitar)
Charlie Bagby (piano)
Sammy Weiss (drummer)
Wayne Songer (clarinet)
Larry Kurkdjie (violin)

[Brad]

Hey kids,

Let's revisit that question about the names of Phil's band members. Can anyone come up with more than those listed below?

Frankie Remley (guitar)
Charlie Bagby (piano)
Sammy Weiss (drummer)
Wayne Songer (clarinet)
Larry Kurkdjie (violin)

The trombone player was named Fletcher, right? I have no idea if this was a real person or not.

[LLeff]

The trombone player was named Fletcher, right? I have no idea if this was a real person or not.

Well, I'm listening to a show from 1-11-42 where a violinist is called Fletcher. So while they often used real names of the band members, if the same name was used for a trombonist, it may be questionable.

[LLeff]

On the 2-15-42 show, Don also mentions the names Mitch and Skippy as members of Phil's band, along with Frankie, Charlie, and Sam (whom we've already identified).

[Brad]

On the 2-15-42 show, Don also mentions the names Mitch and Skippy as members of Phil's band, along with Frankie, Charlie, and Sam (whom we've already identified).

I had no idea that there was a "Skippy" in Phil Harris' band!

[Michael]

The trombone player was named Fletcher, right? I have no idea if this was a real person or not.

Well, I'm listening to a show from 1-11-42 where a violinist is called Fletcher. So while they often used real names of the band members, if the same name was used for a trombonist, it may be questionable.

I think Fletcher Was supposed to be a trombonist... I recall hearing a show where they changed him to the clarinet because they couldn't get the handcuffs off... don't recall the date of the show offhand

[Guest]

On the "Bend of the River" Episode from 52-04-27, Jack Mentions Phil's bass player as Don Riesh(sp?).

[Roman]

Muzzy Marcellino, who was the musical director for Art Linkletter's show in the 1950s and 60s, was a member of Phil's band in the early 1930s before Phil joined Jack's show. Marcellino played the guitar and also sang occasionally while he was with Phil. Marcellino also wrote a lot of songs for the Mickey Mouse Club in the 50s.

Leah Ray was another alumnus of Phil's band. She was his female vocalist in the 1930s. Leah also sang with Tommy Dorsey's band, among other big band orchestras. Later, she married Sonny Werblin, who, at the time, was an agent for the Music Corporation of America (MCA). New York sports fans may remember Sonny Werblin as the founder and first president of the New York Jets football team in the old AFL, as well as the driving force behind the building of the Meadowlands Sports Complex (Giants Stadium and the Brendan Byrne Arena) that brought the Jets, Giants, and Nets to New Jersey.

[Gerry O.]

Speaking of members of Phil's band, there was a very funny fictitious member of the band who appeared on Phil and Alice's Rexall shows in 1948. She was a female harpist, and I'm not sure how she became part of the band, but Phil didn't want her there at all. (I think that Frankie Remley or Alice's brother Willie somehow convinced Phil to hire her, but I'm not sure).

The bit was a riot....Phil would be rehearsing the band, and he'd start singing something like "That's What I Like About The South". As he'd start singing the number, this harpist would start playing loud, elaborate "wipes" on her harp and Phil would have to stop the number.

Phil would yell at her, "Lady, come out from behind that harp....You look like you're in for 30 days!", and she would respond with a flat, deadpan delivery. She would calmly say, "Mr. Harris.....I have stood for your rude, tyrannical outbursts long enough. One more from you, and I shall be obliged to kick you RIGHT IN THE TEETH!"

It's too bad that the lady harpist never appeared on Jack's program....it would have been hilarious to hear her let Jack have it like that!

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

Also performing with Phil's band in the early 30s was the Three Ambassadors - Jack Smith (who just passed away - a very sweet man), Marty Sperzel (who ended up with the Sportsmen Quartet and the Jack Benny program) and (I think) Marshall Hall (who had replaced Al Teeter in the original group).

Six degrees of Benny separation!

[1426]

I have a record discography book which gives the names of Phil's band as it existed in January, February and March of 1937. It is a jazz discography and lists only those records that he recorded of jazz interest. The members are: Phil Harris, director and vocals: Jack Holmes, Roy Wagner, Glen Brock, trumpets / Irving Verret, Floyd O'Brien, Bill Fletcher, trombones / Jack Mitchell, Earl Evans, Jack Echolls, alto sax / Joe Huffman, clarinet and tenor sax / Charlie Bagby, piano / Skippy Anderson, piano and arranger / Frank Remley, guitar / Stan Fletcher, string bass / Sid Jacobs, drums.
Phil did record "That's What I Like About The South" referred to as a "The Groove Song" on March 31, 1937 for the Vocalion label.

[Clyde]

I recently unearthed a LP (remember them?) in my collection that I purchased many years ago. It's on the "Sunbeam" label, catalog number HB-302. Entitled, "Phil Harris and his Orchestra: Broadcasts from the Cocoanut Grove - Los Angeles, 1932".

Quoting from the liner notes, written by Alan Roberts in July, 1973:

"Hi ya, Jackson! That greeting became familiar to millions of radio fans who regularly listened to the Jack Benny Radio Show during the 30's and 40's. We all used to wait with glee for that basso profundo voice of Phil's to boom from our loudspeaker to the accompanying repartee with Jack. The radio transcriptions featured in this album pre-date Harris' association with Benny but his humor and style is very much in evidence, although more subdued without a suitable foil. They were recorded directly from the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles - THE place to dine and dance in earlier times.......His style (has) remained virtually unchanged and like Jack Benny, he (has) built upon a characterization for over 40 years, a tribute to his continuing appeal."

[Maxwell]

Also performing with Phil's band in the early 30s was the Three Ambassadors - Jack Smith (who just passed away - a very sweet man), Marty Sperzel (who ended up with the Sportsmen Quartet and the Jack Benny program) and (I think) Marshall Hall (who had replaced Al Teeter in the original group).

Six degrees of Benny separation!

Of note: The "Three Ambassadors" replaced the Rhythm Boys at the Coconut Grove.

People around my age will remember Smith as the host of "You Asked for It" for the last year or so that the show was on ABC, replacing Art Baker. He later hosted a syndicated version of the show. (And as I recall appeared as himself as host of "You Asked for It" in an episode of "Happy Days.")

People a somwhat older than me will remember him as "Smilin' Jack Smith.

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

Jack Smith also recorded many records for Capitol Records and had his own 15 minute radio show for 8 years (1945 - 1953). The Three Ambassadors (Smith, Sperzel, and Teeter) were 17 years old and still in High School when they replaced the Rhythm Boys with Gus Arnheim. Teeter was replaced by Johnny Smedburg, who was replaced by Marshall Hall). Al Teeter went on to be a music editor for Walt Disney TV shows and movies and composed some film music.

Side note, Jack's wife, Vickii (proper spelling), had a famous relative. Her uncle was Film Director and Composer, Victor Schertzinger.