Count Basie—”Georgianna” (1938)

At the beginning of January 1938, Count Basie and his band members had a busy traveling schedule. On New Year’s Day they played at a dance at the Roseroom in Boston, Massachusetts. Then on January 2 -- 82 years ago today -- they swung it out at a dance in Hamilton Park, Waterbury, Connecticut. The next day they were back at the Decca Studio in New York City for their first recording session of 1938. Remember that by this time Basie had made less than 30 records under his own name. This is “Georgiana” with fine tenor solo work by Lester Young.

Count Basie and his Orchestra: Buck Clayton, Ed Lewis and Karl George-trumpets; Dan Minor, Benny Morton and Eddie Durham-trombones; Earl Warren-alto saxophone; Jack Washington-alto and baritone saxophones; Lester Young and Herschel Evans-clarinets and tenor saxophones; Count Basie-piano; Freddie Green-guitar; Walter Page-double bass; Joe Jones-drums; and Jimmy Rushing-vocals. Eddie Durham also made the arrangement.

The words and music of “Georgiana” was written by three musicians/bandleaders: McKenzie, Carle and Croom-Johnson. They copyrighted the song a few months earlier, on September 25, 1937.

Missourian William “Red” McKenzie (1899-1948) was a bandleader/vocalist and at the time jazz’s only comb player.

The other ginger of this composing trio was British-born Austen Herbert Croom-Johnson (1909-1964). He wrote many of radio’s most popular commercial jingles of the late 1930s, including the 15-seconds “Pepsi Cola Hit’s the Spot” jingle which had been played on the radio more than 1.5 million times.

The third one was Frankie Carle (1903-2001) was a pianist/bandleader born in Rhode Island as Francis Nunzio Carlone. He later became best known for his million seller composition “Sunrise Serenade.”

Which other composing trios do you know?