Curtain Going Up - Dukes Of Dixieland

Jazz Me Blues

Curtain Going Up
The Original Duke Of Dixieland
Cover Photo: Lester Krauss
Roulette R-25029
1958

From the back cover: Back in 1947, the Assunto brothers, Frank and Fred, formed a high school band in their hometown of New Orleans. They called the small group "The Basin Street Four," and when they could add more men to the band, they just changed the name to The Basin Street Five, or Six, and so on. Most of their engagements consisted of playing weekends in and around New Orleans.

Nothing much happened for the Assunto brothers and their father, Jack (who very often plays with the band), until Horace Heidt and his "Pot O' Gold" radio show, which sought fresh, young talent, came to New Orleans. The Assunto boys rounded up a Basin Street Seven and played for the Heidt show. They won such unanimous acclaim, and so impressed Heidt, that the bandleader invited the combo to join his organization. The boys were on their way!

After completing their tour with the Horace Heidt show, the combo returned to New Orleans. They outfitted themselves in uniforms and changed their name to "The Dukes Of Dixieland," Since then, the Dukes have enjoyed success at every turn and have played to crowded audiences in almost every top night spot in the country.

Walkin' Blues
Swanee River Session
Jazz Me Blues
Duke's Stomp
Hindustan
After You've Gone
St. James Infirmary
Sampson's Delight