Doodle Doo Doo

Playing in dance bands can lead you down a lot of roads.  Literally and historically.  By "dance band" I mean a big band style band that is employed to provide 1940s era music for people to dance to (You know, dancing.  As a social activity.  That people did for fun before Internet and video games.  And what the really cool people still do now!).  In the literal sense, it is not uncommon to be loaded into a van with the rest of the band and driven all over the surrounding area to get to a small dance hall out in the middle of nowhere.  Historically, and probably much more interestingly, playing in dance bands means that one is introduced to a rich history of other dance bands, large and small, that had traversed the same roads that you may now be traveling (referring again to the literal part).

One name that has continually popped up since I started playing with such bands is that of Tiny Hill.  Not to be confused with Tiny Tim.  Harry Lawrence "Tiny" Hill, was a large, large man (you know how people give inappropriate nicknames because they think it's funny.  On the other hand, calling him "Fatso" may not have been as endearing).  Born July 19, 1906 in Sullivan, IL, he began drumming with a trio while attending Illinois State Normal College.  In 1931, he formed his first big band, eventually gaining enough popularity to tour the Midwest circuit, playing in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri.  He used sandpaper blocks and a guiro to create rhythms that made people want to get up and dance.  He and his band were experts at playing happy dance music.

One of the tunes he made popular is one that usually remains stuck in my head for many days after playing it: Doodle Doo Doo is a novelty song, written in 1924, words by Art Kassel and music by Mel Stitzel.  It's a perky little tune, bouncing along: "Please play for me that sweet melody, called Doodle Doo Doo, Doodle Doo Doo!  I like the rest but what I like best is Doodle Doo Doo, Doodle Doo Doo!"  You can easily find a recording on YouTube.  I recommend it; then you'll be singing it all day, too.

Tiny Hill's theme song was another bouncy (some of the best tunes really bounce) song called Angry.  Which now usually reminds me of a certain bird-flinging game.  Other popular Tiny Hill hit was Skirts, Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone, and Dream Girl.