Smith Ballew
Smith Ballew (actually Sykes Ballew, born January 21, 1902 in Palestine, Texas; † 2 MAY 1984 in Longview, Texas ) was an American jazz singer, bandleader and actor.
Ballew founded his first jazz band at the University of Texas. Over the next ten years he was one of the major figures of the big band era and led several orchestras, was the singer in other orchestras, as with Jimmy Joy, Leo Reisman or Lou Gold & His Orchestra (1931 ), and made numerous songs on. Most recordings were made as Smith Ballew and His Orchestra; but he took on under the pseudonym Buddy Blue & His Texans. Around 1934 he dissolved his last band until then - his teammates Glenn Miller, Ray McKinley and Skeets Herfurt went to the Dorsey Brothers. A short time was Ballew singer in the bands of Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman; He also sang for the orchestra of Ben Pollack, Ted Fiorito, Meyer Davis, George Olsen, Hal Kemp and Sam Lanin.
He was also one of the hosts of the radio show The Shell Chateau on NBC, in the Victor Young led the orchestra; the show ran from 1935 to 1937 and was initially supervised by Al Jolson. After his retirement Ballew was next to Wallace Beery one of the moderators; This job led to Ballews moving to California and to contacts with the film industry. Producer Sol Lesser took him for a number of Singing Cowboy films at 20th Century Fox contract. For five films Ballew rode across the plains; then his film career ended as quickly as it had begun; occasional offers for supporting roles he perceived.
From the 1940s onwards Ballew worked in the aircraft industry; He then worked until 1967 as a businessman and now lived in Fort Worth.
Recordings released on the labels Okeh, Banner, Domino, Jewel, Regal, Perfect, Oriole (as Buddy Blue & His Texans and Jack Blue's Texans ), Columbia and Crown. The signature tune of his orchestra was "Tonight There Is Music in the Air". In addition to the musicians already mentioned, played at times also Carl Kress, Joe Venuti, Bunny Berigan, Jimmy McPartland, Fulton McGrath and Artie Bernstein at Smith Ballew.