Benny Goodman—”The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise” (1960)
“The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise” was composed by Canadian concert pianist Ernest Seitz (1892-1978), who, according to Wikipedia, had “conceived the refrain when he was 12. Embarrassed about writing popular music, Seitz used the pseudonym “Raymond Roberts” when the song was first published in 1919.” It has been recorded by many singers and musicians since. When Les Paul and Mary Ford waxed their version in 1951 and the song, which has lyrics by Canadian character actor Gene Lockhart (1891-1957), became a million-seller. The Beatles made a home tape recording of the song around May 1960 and a month later Benny Goodman and Red Norvo played it on national television.
On June 19, 1960, Benny Goodman and his All Star Basin Street Band appeared on the final Ed Sullivan Show of Season 12 (Episode 38). Clarinetist Benny Goodman and vibraphonist Red Norvo were accompanied by Jimmy Wyble on guitar, John Mosher on bass, John Markham on drums, and John Bunch on piano. The latter had recently been added to the Goodman outfit. According to New York columnist Dorothy Kilgallen “The hottest musical feud in town stars Benny Goodman and his current pianist, Gene Di Novi. Benny suddenly gave Gene his notice -- the pianist swears he has no idea why -- and told him not to report for the weekend rehearsals of the Goodman band appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. John Bunch, an excellent jazz pianist who used to work for Buddy Rich, was summoned to make the TV date. Gene will finish the Basin Street East engagement because of musicians’ union ruling.” (Ashbury Park Press, June 20, 1960).
At the time you could see Benny jamming at a New York City nightclub called the Basin Street East, which was located in the Shelton Towers Hotel.
The day after the Sunday night broadcast, The Boston Globe’s ‘Night Watch’ columnist Percy Shian reported under the headline “Benny’s Band Belts Out Magic”: “As far as “Sunrise” was concerned, Benny had done the number so many times in so many forms that he couldn’t help repeating (he once recorded it anonymously under the nom de licorice stick of Shoeless Joe Jackson, no less).”
In Ohio, Fred Danzig wrote in that day’s Coshocton Tribune about the CBS-TV hour that “The best part of Sullivan’s show was Benny Goodman’s segment. Benny and his cats blew the dust off some old sounds, made them sound fresh again and stopped the show.” Other segments of the show included guests like Ann Miller and Della Reese. Goodman did a new twist at the start, a “Don’t Be That Way” intro combined with a “Let’s Dance” run. It had been a long time since Goodman had tried to vary his takeoff. Next came his “Poor Butterfly“ number which was just like in the old days, except for the ending. Benny also showcased a new singer, Maria Marshall, who presented a rich voice in “Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home.” In Goodman’s quintet version of “The World Is Waiting For the Sunrise” he had the able backing of Red Norvo, who down through the years had been tops among the xylophone artists.”
Illinois-born Kenneth Norville (1908-1999) taught himself how to play piano and xylophone. By age 17, he was touring with a vaudeville show and later joined the Paul Ash Orchestra. His last name changed to Norvo after Ash pronounced it to a reporter and Norvo’s manager decided the shorter name was more fitting. During Norvo’s tenure with Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra, which he joined in 1932, he met singer Mildred Bailey, whom he married the following year. By 1935, he formed his own sextet that was playing at New York City’s Famous Door club.
In subsequent years, Red Norvo and his wife, who died in 1951, formed several groups in New York and Chicago. After World War II, Norvo joined Benny Goodman’s orchestra. He played his vibraphone in several bands, and accompanied Frank Sinatra during a tour of Australia. I had the pleasure of attending live performances by the swinging Red Norvo twice in 1983, when he was touring Europe with a group called “The Great Eight.” In the early 1990s Red Norvo suffered a stroke that ended his public performances.
