King of Jazz: PAUL WHITEMAN / Ferde Grofe 1928 Penn Athletic Club Broadside

Description: This is a rare December 16th, 1928 broadside (single page playbill) from the one-night concert appearance of PAUL WHITEMAN and his Greater Concert Orchestra at the Penn Athletic Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The musical selections included GEORGE GERSHWIN's "Concerto in F" (scored by Ferde Grofe) and the one of the first performances of FERDE GROFE's "Metropolis". Also performed were selections by Nicholas, Ager and Yellin; Gilbert, Malneck and Signorelli; La Rocca; Donaldson; Hazlett; Norton; Gilbert and Wayne and Henderson ..... Biography: PAUL WHITEMAN (1890 — 1967) was an American bandleader, called the “King of Jazz” for popularizing a musical style that helped to introduce jazz to mainstream audiences during the 1920's and 1930's. Whiteman, who was originally a violinist, conducted a 40-piece U.S. Navy band in 1917–18 and then developed a hotel orchestra in California, which he took to New York City in 1920. He hired the best white jazz players, but he allowed little room for improvisation in his arrangements and greatly simplified jazz rhythms. He was successful as a co-composer of popular songs during the 1920's and led his orchestra in Broadway musicals. Whiteman commissioned George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and conducted it's premiere at Aeolian Hall, New York City, in 1924, with the composer as piano soloist. Whiteman also introduced the Grand Canyon Suite (1931) by Ferde Grofe, who had arranged the Rhapsody. The Rhapsody became Whiteman’s theme, and he established the Whiteman Awards for compositions in a “symphonic jazz” style. The 1930 film King of Jazz was the first of four in which his orchestra appeared. Whiteman was the host of several national radio programs during the 1930's, wrote three books, and recorded extensively. His popularity waned in the late 1940's, but he came back as a television-series host in the 1950's and occasionally led bands up to the time of his death. (Britannica) ..... DETAILS: The single page, one-sided program measures 3 3/4" X 6" inches, is printed on a card stock and includes the list of musical selections with composer credits and venue. The backside is blank ..... CONDITION: This rare program is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.

Price: 69.99 USD

Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon

End Time: 2023-10-29T14:19:00.000Z

Shipping Cost: 3.95 USD