Ronnie Kole
Plays the Top Ten Big Band Hits

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This album came about through the efforts of the listeners of one hundred and thirty-five radio stations throughout the continental United States plus St. Croix, Virgin Islands and Honolulu, Hawaii. The listeners were asked to write to their stations and name their three favorite songs. The thousands of requests were fed into a computer at the headquarters of the ABC Radio Networks. All of these requests were then played for an "All Request Weekend" on the one hundred and thirty-five radio stations. As a result for the first time in recording history, the top ten songs as requested by you, the listeners, were arranged and recorded by us....

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Selections

• 1 Stardust
  • The most requested song on our survey, and possibly tops in every other survey, is Stardust. When I think of this great Hoagy Carmichael - Mitchell Parish hit, I immediately hear a trumpet - so why change tradition. Chuck Easterling plays a warm and emotional trumpet solo on this cut.
• 2 In the Mood
  • The second most requested song on our survey was In the Mood. It can be found in every dance band's library and has to be one of the most requested dance tunes regardless of age group. Jim Duggan and Wardell Quezerque both had a hand in the arrangement of this great Glenn Miller hit. Robert Gables' fiery tenor solo and Dick Taylor's driving drums keep this arrangement really moving. The voices are those of the Satin Dolls.
• 3 Moonlight Serenade
  • Moonlight Serenade was the theme song of the Glenn Miller Band and will always be played with the clarinet lead giving that distinctive Miller sound. We've blended clarinets, saxes and the piano giving a little different twist but still maintaining that same great feel. The warm tenor solo is, again, by Robert Gable.
• 4 Sentimental Journey
  • Most everyone has a special memory when they hear Sentimental Journey, who they were with and/or where they were when it was at the top of the charts. The voices are those of the Pfister Sisters.
• 5 String of Pearls
  • Another Glenn Miller hit was String of Pearls. This features the alto work of Ward Smith and the tenor work of Gable. Like In the Mood, this is in every dance band's dance library.
• 6 Deep Purple
  • Carmen Cavallaro had a great influence on my piano playing, which is very obvious on this recording of Deep Purple. Thank you, Carmen for developing this unique and melodic style.
• 7 Sunrise Serenade
  • Sunrise Serenade was written and used as a theme song by pianist Frankie Carle. Arranger Wardell Quezerque captured that happy "Frankie Carle feel." A big "Thanks" to John Dikey's great work with the trombone section.
• 8 Misty
  • Misty was written by one of the greatest piano stylists who ever lived, and is the only song chosen that is relatively new, but it is regarded as a classic standard. Yes, Errol Garner was another great influence on my piano playing, which I am sure you'll easily detect in this arrangement.
• 9 Begin the Beguine
  • Cole Porter gave us many great songs and all of them are a pianist's dream to play. As you can see, I played every note of this one and some Mr. Porter probably wishes I hadn't.
• 10 I'll Be Seeing You
  • When you think of I'll Be Seeing You, you have to associate it with Liberace who used it as his theme song for so many years. We've put a nice beat to it and once again we hear the voices of the Pfister Sisters giving this one a really toe-tapping feeling.
• & Browsin'
  • Browsin' is lagniappe (a little something extra). It was written and arranged by Jim Campbell for me to record for a group of music trivia buffs called "The Browsers". It's used as the theme song on the Eddie Hubbard Show. Because of numerous requests, Eddie asked Jim to make a complete song out of it. No lyrics yet, but who knows, maybe one of you will come up with some and we can get Eddie to sing it. Soloists are: tenor sax, Robert Gable; trumpet, Chuck Easterling; and both guitar and bass, Bill Huntington.

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Year Released: 2000

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For further information, contact
Ronnie Kole
P.O. Box 5519, Slidell, LA 70469
Tel: 504.524.5716
www.ronniekole.com
E-mail: RonKole@aol.com