Darktown Strutters Ball
On With The Dance
Meyer Davis and His Orchestra
Arrangement by Elliott Jacoby
Produced by Sid Feller
Cover Design by Bob Crozier
Cover Photography by Alan Fontaine
ABC-Paramount ABC-197
1958
From the back cover: To the "average man" the life of anyone remotely engaged in show business or its immediate environs is filled with glamor and iridescent fantasy, a world of inimitable fascination, flowing over with wine, women and song. In some higher aspects, the cup is bubbling with champagne, stars and symphonies.
To Meyer Davis, however, there is an altogether different plane, composed of the supernates of the elite, upper-stratosphere of society. To generations of families, the name of Davis has been intimately associated with almost every notable function requiring the finest in dance music. Catering to the select coterie has presented somewhat of a challenge at times – and yet, according to the genial maestro, the years have contributed many memorable moments.
In recounting these occurrences, Mr. Davis has indulgently allowed himself the license of changing some names where necessary, and omitted complete identification where it became evident that "discretion is the better part of valor."
There is, for instance, the case of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's favorite song –
For years, the nation's press had given wide coverage that FDR appreciated the sentiment and simple beauty of "Home On The Range" above all other tunes. The reporters who first gave this startling news to a breathless world gave due credit to their source of information: Meyer Davis. Having played for the most of the social events in the White House for over thirty years – during the administration's of six different presidents – Mr. Davis was cornered at the entrance to America's No. One residence on one occasion when he had been engaged by Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt. Among the queries put to the leader was the question of the President's favorite song. Groping for an answer, Mr. Davis suddenly announced that Mr. Roosevelt's most-repeated request was for "Home On The Range." The story made front pages throughout the country, and the "fact" was undeniably established. As a matter of fact, the President later admitted that the number did rank close to the top of his list of all-time favorites.
FDR's predecessor, Herbert Hoover, was a stickler for promptitude. Although there was little formal entertaining in the White House during his term in office, one particular affair stands out in Mr. Davis' memory. The party was given by President and Mrs. Hoover in honor of their son, Alan, and the Davis orchestra had been hired to play up to 1:00 a.m. At 12:45, Mr. Hoover's military aide reminded the maestro of the termination time, fifteen minute hence, and Mr. Davis acknowledged with a nod. It as usual for any of the Davis orchestras (there are almost fifty in all!) to ply "Goodnight, Ladies" at five minutes before the end of festivities, and the custom also prevailed on this occasion. Beginning the number, Mr. Davis gave the downbeat, and turned toward the dancers, as he often does – and almost dropped his baton in astonishment. Directly in front of the bandstand stood the military aide – with a stop-watch! Thirty seconds before 1:00 a.m., the aide raised his hand as a warning signal to the leader and, precisely at the hour of termination, he dropped his arm in a definite "cut-off" – and the orchestra was forced to stop in the middle of a note!
One of the more humorous incidents concerns the time when Meyer Davis was selected as the only American band leader to play for the King and Queen of England during their visit to the United States in 1939. This was, of course, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, parents of the present-reigning Queen. The occasion was the official reception at the Administration Building of the New York World's Fair. Mr. Davis, vacationing in Newport at the time, consented to return for the event, with plans to return to Newport directly afterward. Accordingly, he phoned one of his musicians to pick up his formal attire at the Davis apartment and bring it to the affair, since Mr. Davis' plans were to proceed right to the Administration Building from the airport. Unbeknownst to the maestro and the musicians, however, American and British authorities had set up an airtight "screening" of all guests, issuing special passes for clearance. The musician picked dup Mr. Davis' clothing and, having no pass, was stopped from entering the grounds. Waiting backstage was Mr. Davis, decked out in vacation garb of sports coat and slacks, with the time drawing nearer for his appearance on the bandstand. Finally, in desperation, the maestro hurriedly assembled a complete "costume' from various members of the orchestra – a coat from one, patent leather shoes from another, the trousers from a third(!), and so on. As would be expected, the musician who contributed the trousers did not play in the orchestra that day. But the band played on...
Through the many years, the Duke of Winsor has become a close, personal acquaintance of Meyer Davis, and hardly an occasion goes by where the Duke is a guest at one of the Davis-orchestrated functions but what this leading member of royalty must "sit in" with the band – playing the drums! It began some three decades ago when he was the Guest of Honor at a party given by Mrs. Richard Reid Rogers at the famed Greenbriar Hotel in White Sulpher Springs. During the course of the evening, the Duke (then the Prince of Wales) asked the maestro if he could take over the drums for a bit. Surprised and amused, Mr. Davis graciously permitted the substation and was gratified to note how proficiently the Prince performed. Since then, the Duke has often taken "his turn" to beat out the rhythm in the Davis aggregation. In fact, not too many years ago, the front page of most American newspapers carried a picture of Meyer Davis presenting a pair of sterling sticks, the Duke could have gone on playing with the orchestra for days on end, he averred.
The Duke continually "scouts" European song hits for Mr. Davis, and has bought some very valuable additions to the Davis repertoire. The classic, "Arrivederci, Roma," was one of the songs discovered in this manner.
Winding up this potpourri of vignettes and memories-that-bless is the story of the swank affair played by one of the Davis orchestras at the old Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York, no longer existent. Leading the band was one of Mr. Davis' assistants, not a musician, but considered a good "stick man," a beat-conscious leader. During one of the sets, the band played one of the popular adaptations from a classical piece of music, arousing the curiosity of a lady guest. as she danced by the bandstand, she inquired of the leader:
"Peter Tachaikowsky?"
"No, Madam," replied the loyal Davis Disciple, "Meyer Davis."
The little collection of memorabilia above is but a partial cross-section of the files which Meyer Davis treasures – events and sayings which have surrounded his career as America's leading society maestro. His tall, stately figure now seems to be a standard fixture at most parties and affairs which have become legend for the members of society. Yet, oddly enough, Mr. Davis does not consider this comparatively limited group of patron his prime and unalterable claim to fame. It is, by medium of the more that fifty bands and orchestras, playing in hotels and smart clubs throughout the nation and on such as the United States Lines ships at sea, that the genial, meticulous Mr. D. is always aware of the trend in dance music and the demands of the general mass of ballroom addicts. It is not unusual to find Meyer Davis, conducting a rehearsal with careful and analytical observance of the dance beat, suddenly laying aside his baton and going into a ballroom whirl with an imaginary partner. After a few minutes of this solo terpsichore (unlike most band leaders who are described as "clay-foot" as dancers, Mr. Davis does dance well), it is quite likely he will silence the band with a wide, sweeping gesture and announce: "Sorry gentlemen, that's not it... The kids won't dig it."
"On With The Dance" is the second dance album to be release by Meyer Davis and his Orchestra within the past few months. His first great anthology of music tailored to the danceable tempo, "Meyer Davis Cordially Invites You To Dance" (ABC-176), released in June of 1957, became a standard best seller within a matter of weeks. This latest compilation of the Davis "touch" in a bargain bazaar of dance moods should add thousands to the growing list of Davis fans, who continually discover the reason why he ranks supreme with lovers of the ballroom art. With them, as with the discriminating and demanding leaders of the society set, there is only one Meyer Davis.
Long may he reign... – Natt Hale
Medley 1 - Rosalie, It's A lovely Day Tomorrow, Runin' Wild, So In Love, Varsity Drag
Medley 2 - It's A Lovely Day Today (from Call Me Madam), No Other Love (from Me And Juliet), Alexander's Ragtime Band, You're Just In Love
Medley 3 - April In Portugal, Everything I've Got, My Heart Belongs To Daddy, On The Street Where You Live (from My Fair Lady), The Darktown Strutters' Ball
Fidgety Feet
Medley 4 - The Best Things In Life Are Free, September Song (from Knickerbocker Holiday), Lovely To Look At (from Roberta)
Emperor Waltz
Waltz Of Flowers (from Nutcracker Suite)
I Yi Yi Yi Yi (I Like You Very Much)
Auroa
South Rampart Street Parade
