Its_Been_So_Long

Its_Been_So_Long

Author: Dennis Humphrey December 10, 2025 Duration: 15:36

Its_Been_So_Long


Step into a world where the airwaves hum with the warm glow of vacuum tubes and the air is filled with the rich, swinging sounds of clarinets, trumpets, and a driving rhythm section. Big Band Serenade, hosted by Dennis Humphrey, is more than just a collection of old recordings; it's a weekly time machine. This podcast lovingly curates the soundtrack of an era, pulling you directly into the thrilling days when radio was the center of home entertainment and big bands were the rock stars of their time. You'll hear the iconic performances that defined a generation, from the smooth ballads to the explosive, dance-floor-filling numbers that made the Big Band Era so unforgettable. Dennis guides each episode with a deep appreciation for the music and its history, offering context and stories that bring the period to life. It's an auditory escape for anyone who loves the grandeur of swing, the sophistication of jazz, and the timeless quality of expertly performed popular music. Tune in to this podcast for a regular, immersive dose of nostalgia and artistry, a serenade from a time when every broadcast was an event and the music had the power to unite a nation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 456

Big Band Serenade
Podcast Episodes
Big Band Serenade  206 Glenn Miller Interview and Radio Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:52
Glenn Miller and his orchestra were first heard on CBS radio in 1939. The show was often broadcast from a "remote" location, such as Cafe Rouge, NY, Paradise Restaurant, NY, and other locations. Mr Miller died in an airp…
Big Band Serenade  203 Blanche Calloway Her Life and Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:39
Sister of Cab, Blanche Calloway was a popular singer and bandleader during the 1930s. She studied music at Morgan State College before dropping out to pursue a career in show business. Her big break came in 1923 when off…
Big Band Serenade  201 Will Bradley His Life and Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:48
I am sorry for the quality of the sound. My mixer went out. Wilbur Schwichtenberg, 12 July 1912, Newton, New Jersey, USA, d. 15 July 1989, Flemington, New Jersey, USA. Bradley played trombone with various bands in New Yo…
Big Band Serenade  200 Erroll Garner His Life and Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:34
A self-taught pianist who never learned to read music, Erroll Garner was nevertheless one of the most popular jazz musicians of the 1950s. His swinging piano and gift for melody kept him on the top of the charts, and his…
Big Band Serenade  199 The Waltz King Wayne King His Life and Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:26
A popular 30s bandleader, Wayne King has been compared to Lawrence Welk and Fred Waring. Known as the "Waltz King," his repertoire was made up of waltzes, novelty songs and sentimental recordings. The sound was copied by…
Big Band Serenade  198 Vic Domone His Life and Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:48
Among the more prominent of the pop-singing crooners of the mid-twentieth century, Vic Damone recorded more than 2,000 songs during an active career that began in 1947 and spanned 54 years. With a lush and mellow bariton…
Big Band Serenade  197 Geraldo and His Orchestra [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:40
Gerald Walcan Bright, better known as Geraldo (10 August 1904, London, England - 4 May 1974, Vevey, Switzerland) was a British bandleader. Bright adopted the name "Geraldo" in 1930 to become one of the most popular dance…