Make Believe Ballroom

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom hosted by Jeff Bressler - a series of first-time ever recorded songs, an obsolete music industry profession, three great clarinetists overshadowed by Goodman and Shaw - all this and more great records and memories for your listening pleasure.

Happy Holiday's! A repeat broadcast as the Make Believe Ballroom crew celebrates. This week's Make Believe Ballroom with Jeff Bressler brings you Classic Big Band Hits from the 30s and 40s - a big band leader who had to change his name. This popular bandleader had a second career as an MC and DJ, plus many more great songs and stories to cherish and enjoy on this week's program.

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom hosted by Jeff Bressler, a listen to some fabulous music from the year 1938, a song Artie Shaw absolutely hated, a big band icon writes a dictionary, and the role the vocalist played in music from the 1930s.

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom hosted by Jeff Bressler, we listen to some music and history from On the Bill Savory Collection. Savory was a radio sound engineer who captured for posterity jazz broadcast radio remotes that networks transmitted live from hotel ballrooms and clubs, a staple of programming in the 30s and 40s. During Savory's era, after most live broadcasts ended, they were rarely saved, primarily due to technical issues, budget constraints, or a lack of understanding of the jazz movement's history. Savory dedicated many years to preserving this musical history.

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom hosted by Jeff Bressler: the first time a specific instrument was used in a jazz recording, Jeff’s favorite crooners from the era, a most underrated big band song, plus many more stories and music from the 30s and 40s.