"When I danced with the girls, they all got a lot of exercise!"He was a garage owner by day but a serious dancer at night, so talented and winning that mothers asked him to teach their knock-kneed daughters how to look good on the dance floor. And though he now mostly gets around in a wheelchair, the way he moved gave a hint of how he must have won those Moms over back in the day.
The scene was a nursing home in midtown yesterday afternoon where we were presenting Volume 7 of "When Swing Was King." And the former "boss of the ballroom" was one of about 15 residents who were squeezed into the 3rd floor room to catch our latest program. It's a great reception we always get: spirited, grateful, warm-hearted. There's applause, laughter, conversation, teasing -- and that's before we even start playing the music!
It's a wonderful example of what "When Swing Was King" is designed to do; namely, entertain, recall memories, stimulate the mind and spirit, and create friendships. Several told us yesterday that this was their favorite program of any offered by the facility. One lady said, "I know we're a pretty little place here and you guys must be awfully popular but please keep coming, okay?"
We will. Indeed, this facility is one of the six where we present "When Swing Was King" every month while others sign us up for occasional visits. We're getting pretty close to saturation point. But not quite yet so, if you'd like to see us show up at the facility near you (or where you might have a loved one in residence), please give us a call ASAP.
Today we take our musical/visual/ big band commentary show on the road to a facility in Missouri Valley, Iowa. What fun.
By the way, for those following along, here's the rundown for Volume 7:
Glenn Miller -- "In the Mood"
Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra -- "This Love of Mine"
Ink Spots -- "Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat"
Ozzie Nelson -- "Jersey Jive"
Andrews Sisters -- "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon"
Artie Shaw & Helen Forrest -- "They Say"
Larry Clinton -- "Dodgin' The Dean"
Duke Ellington -- "Perdido"
Vaughn Monroe -- "Ballerina"
Freddy Martin -- "The Way You Look Tonight"
Harry James -- "You Made Me Love You"
Russ Morgan -- "So Long"
Benny Goodman -- "Jersey Bounce"
