Leap Year Birthdays

Swing City RadioSaturday, February 29, 2020Artists and Recordings

Two noteworthy artists from the Big Band Era that had rare February 29th birthdays were Jimmy Dorsey and Dinah Shore.

Famous band leader Jimmy Dorsey was born on this day in 1904. Vocalist Dinah Shore, who also later became a huge television personality, was born in 1916. A rare Happy Birthday goes out to these two great performers.

Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.

Glenn Miller Month

Swing City RadioSaturday, February 29, 2020Artists and Recordings

The month of March is "Glenn Miller Month" on Swing City Radio. We will be playing Glenn Miller songs every hour and diving deeper into his vast catalog of music. The first week of Glenn Miller Month we will feature only Live Glenn Miller Performance on Live at 5. I will also be posting some of my favorite Glenn Miller albums that I own up on the website along with articles and videos about the life of Glenn Miller.

Swing City Radio celebrates the March 1st birthday of Glenn Miller, a true icon of the Big Band Era.

Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.

Swing City Radio T-Shirt

Swing City RadioWednesday, February 19, 2020Station News

Show your support for your favorite Big Band and Swing Radio Station by ordering a Swing City Radio T-Shirt. These T-Shirts are great! Lots of different styles too. Check them out! (This shirt is no longer available.)

No Longer Available.

Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.

Charlie Spivak Soundie

Swing City RadioTuesday, February 18, 2020Artists and Recordings, Soundies

Here is a video of Charlie Spivak and His Orchestra performing "Hop, Skip and Jump." This was released as a Soundie in the early 1940's. Soundies were the original music videos, decades before MTV was even an idea. But as you can see the formula for a music video has never seemed to change. The band is featured doing some silly things while playing and of course there's beautiful women dancing along with the music.

Check out the goofy expression Charlie has in parts of the video. He just didn't look too comfortable with the whole process. (Picture Below)

Also, wanted to give out a Happy Birthday to Charlie who would have turned the ripe old age of 115 on February 17th. Spivak passed away in 1982.

You can hear Charlie Spivak right here on Swing City Radio!

Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.

Happy Birthday Wingy

Swing City RadioThursday, February 13, 2020Artists and Recordings

A happy birthday goes out to trumpeter and bandleader Wingy Manone. Wingy was born Joseph Manone on February 13th, 1900. Some of his more famous recordings included "Tar Paper Stomp", "Nickel in the Slot" and "Tailgate Ramble".

His nickname "Wingy" came from the fact that he lost his right arm in a streetcar accident in 1910. He was only 10 years old. He used a prosthesis arm so naturally that his disability was not even noticed by the public.

His song "Tar Paper Stomp" will always be remembered for his famous riff that was later used by Glenn Miller as the foundation riff for his mega hit "In the Mood."

Manone was a highly sought out musician who was frequently recruited for recording sessions. He even played on some early Benny Goodman records. He also fronted various pickup groups under pseudonyms like "The Cellar Boys" and "Barbecue Joe and His Hot Dogs."

Wingy passed away in 1984 at the age of 84.

You can hear many of Wingy Manone's songs right here on Swing City Radio.

Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.

Twice Blessed Dance Scene

Swing City RadioWednesday, February 12, 2020History

Watch a great dance scene from the 1945 movie "Twice Blessed". Twice Blessed was a comedy starring Preston Foster, Gail Patrick, and The Wilde Twins, Lee and Lyn Wilde. More about the film below the video. Enjoy!

The plot of this film is that there are two identical twins (The Wilde Sisters) who have been split up since their parents divorce. Each envies the life style of the other so they decide to switch families for a day or two. Hmmm...seems like Hollywood likes this plot line and story and has used it many times over the years, huh. The movie poster says it all! "They're Babes in Arms Dancing, Romancing with the Joy of Life!" - I'm pretty sure if I was walking past that movie poster in 1945, I would have done a quick U-Turn into the theater.

Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.

Ina Ray Hutton: Girl Time

Swing City RadioSunday, February 09, 2020Artists and Recordings

Watch Ina Ray Hutton lead one of her "All Girl" Orchestras in the short film "Girl Time." I believe this is from 1947. There is also a bunch of variety acts featured in this video as well. Enjoy.

Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.

Tell Your Friends

Swing City RadioThursday, February 06, 2020Station News

I hope you have been enjoying the music we've been playing on Swing City Radio. Can I ask you a favor? A small one that will only take a couple minutes of your time. Can you help me get the word out about the station? I'd really appreciate if you told your friends and family that you are listening to this great station that plays a great selection of Big Band music.

Another easy way to help me spread the word is by posting it on your Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest accounts. You can post one of the interesting articles we have on the website or you can simply click on one of the buttons below to post a generic message about Swing City Radio.

Thank you so much! ...and thank you for listening to Swing City Radio!

Click on a button below to post generic information about Swing City Radio:

Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.

List of Big Bands and Performers

Swing City RadioSunday, February 02, 2020Artists and Recordings

Swing City Radio plays artists and performers from the Big Band and Swing Era of the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's as well as Modern Swing artists from today. We are constantly enhancing our playlists to keep our programming fresh, enjoyable and entertaining for our Big Band and Swing listening audience. (You are the best audience in the world by the way!)

Below please find a partial list of the artists we play on Swing City Radio. We've included a short bio along with a Wikipedia link so you can learn more about your favorite artists. If you ever feel we should include an artist you haven't been hearing on our station, then please email us a request.

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