Gerald Duppler, better known under his stage name of Tommy Tucker, led a semi-popular orchestra for a little over 25 years. Tucker opened each live performance with his signature "tic-toc, tic-toc, it's Tommy Tucker time." Personally, I felt that tic-toc was a little annoying as a signature, but to each their own.
In 1933, Tommy Tucker and His Band found themselves based in California, in fact, at the time of his first recordings in 1933 the band was known as Tommy Tucker and His Californians. In 1935, they formally switched over to Tommy Tucker and His Orchestra and later they sometimes were billed as Tommy Tucker Time. The music they played was very much on the "sweet" side of the musical spectrum. Tommy Tucker and His Orchestra are best remembered for their biggest hit, "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" but for me, my favorite by them is a song called "The Man That Comes Around". The Soundie that was later filmed for the song is hilarious.
Listen to "The Man That Comes Around" by Tommy Tucker Time
Tucker received a lot of airplay on the radio in the 1940's. Overall, Tommy Tucker's music was just fun to listen to. The band didn't feature many big names but did include Hal Dennis on piano. Eydie Gorme actually sang with the band for awhile.
Tucker eventually retired and became a professor in music at Monmouth College in New Jersey.
You can hear Tucker Tucker and His Orchestra right here on Swing City Radio.
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