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Got A Date With An Angel: Musical Memories of the 1930s

Step back in time to the glamorous 1930s and hear the music that set the country dancing as performed by one of the most popular bands of the era, Hal Kemp and his Orchestra. Hear musical memories from The Great American Songbook: “In The Mood,” “Moonlight Serenade” “Too Marvelous for Words,” and more with music by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Jerome Kern.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina, Hal Kemp rocketed to bandleading fame in the 1930s with a distinctive musical style originated by pianist/arranger John Scott Trotter (later musical director for Bing Crosby) and vocalist Skinnay Ennis (who went on to form his own big band in the 1940s). Kemp’s records sold in the millions and his live appearances drew capacity crowds.

Joseph Rubin leads a swinging 13-piece big band and three outstanding vocal soloists performing Kemp’s newly discovered original arrangements for the first time in 80 years!

No expense has been spared in this presentation. From the band’s uniforms to the monogrammed music stands to the 1930s Leedy Drum Set, the original Hal Kemp Orchestra is reproduced down to the most minute detail.

CONCERT SONG LIST

Length: Two hours with a fifteen minute intermission (can be altered by request)

Theme Song (When The Summer Is Gone)
“A Foggy Day” (1937) from the film A Damsel in Distress by George and Ira Gershwin
“A Fine Romance” (1936) from the film Swing Time by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields
“Begin the Beguine” (1935) by Cole Porter
“Change Partners” (1938) from the film Carefree by Irving Berlin
“Cuban Pete” (1936) by Jose Norman
“Danger, Love At Work” (1937) by Harry Revel and Mack Gordon
“Doin’ The Uptown Lowdown” (1933) by Harry Revel and Mack Gordon
“Easy To Love” (1936) from the film Born to Dance by Cole Porter
“Goody Goody” (1936) by Matty Malneck and Johnny Mercer
“Got a Date With An Angel” (1931) by Grey, Miller, Wailer and Turnbrige
“I’m Going Shopping With You” (1935) from the film Gold Diggers of 1935 by Harry Warren and Al Dubin
“In An Eighteenth Century Drawing Room” (1939) by Raymond Scott
“In The Mood” (1939) by Joe Garland
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” (1936) from the film Born to Dance by Cole Porter
“Joseph! Joseph!” (1938) by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin
“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” (1937) from Shall We Dance by George & Ira Gershwin
“The Love Bug Will Bite You (If You Don’t Watch Out)” (1937) by Pinky Tomlin
“Love Is Here To Stay” (1938) from the film The Goldwyn Follies by George and Ira Gershwin
“Midnight, The Stars And You” (1934) by Woods, Campbell and Connolly
“Moonlight Serenade” (1939) by Glenn Miller
“Powerhouse” (1937) by Raymond Scott
“Swampfire” (1934) by Harold Mooney
“That’s A Plenty” (1914) by Lew Pollack and Ray Gilbert
“Too Marvelous For Words” (1937) by Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer
“The Way You Look Tonight” (1936) from the film Swing Time by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields

PAST PERFOrmances

Friday, June 21, 2019 - Musical Memories of Idora Park - Tyler History Center, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Youngstown, Ohio
Saturday June 22, 2019 - Musical Memories of Meyers Lake Park - Palace Theatre, Canton Ohio