HELLO EVERYBODY! So, I"m back here, from my holidays. Although I did not spend them on the Southern Islands - yet similarly, on the beautiful Aegean Coast, with hundreds of islands scattered across the emerald sea. Therefore - being still in my holiday mood - I'm uploading this film with a little continuation of that scenery. Let's enjoy it in these first cool days of autumn beginning. ------------------------------------------------------ Yerkes' S.S. Flotilla Orchestra - South Sea Isles (Introd. "She's Just a Baby") Fox Trot from "Scandals of 1921" ( George Gershwin), Vocalion 1921 (USA; accoustical) NOTE: Harry A. YERKES -- American music manager, xylophone player and bandleader who led numerous ensembles appearing on many of the popular labels between 1917 and 1924. He was among the very first Columbia recording artists; his two 1905 xylophone solos were released on Columbia two-minute wax cylinders. He also performed as a bell ringer. The names of Yerkes' many recording bands include Yerkes Marimbaphone Band, Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra (spelled most often with only one "z" but occasionally with two), Yerkes S.S. Flotilla Orchestra, Yerkes Bellhops, the Novelty Five, and the Happy Six. The music played by these groups ranged from classical overtures and light-headed mood to ragtime and authentic jazz. Besides being a recording artist, Yerkes was also a producer for many other ensambles. He was responsible for setting up Ted Lewis with a steady contract at Columbia. He was on board at Columbia when W.C. Handy, Johnny Dunn, James P. Johnson, and Bessie Smith were encouraged to make records for this label. Yerkes employed remarkable musicians in his ensembles: clarinetist Alcide "Yellow" Nunez, trombonist Tom Brown, pianist Ted Fio Rito, trumpeter Earl Oliver, saxophone star Rudy Wiedoeft, and percussionist George Hamilton Green. Yerkes was also among the first to record early compositions by Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Maceo Pinkard, and the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake. ------------------------------------------------ The show "George White's Scandals of 1921" opened at Liberty Theatre, New York on July 11, 1921. Produced and staged by George White, it had 97 performances. The cast included George White, Ann Pennington, Theresa Gardella, Olive Vaughan, Lester Allen, and Bert Gordon. The "Scandals" were a prototypical 1920s mélange of girls, tunes and sketches, with the songs largely unable to find their way beyond the confines of the show. George Gershwin's second score for the "Scandals" - he was first contracted by George White for the "Scandals of 1920" - was another hodgepodge of tunes. Five of the six songs were published during the show's run, though none -- including "South Sea Isles" - have retained any sort of popularity.

• published: 28 Sep 2013
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