Clyde Lucas

Clyde Lucas was an American singer, trombonist and band leader in the field of swing and popular music . He led the formation Clyde Lucas & His California Dons .

Life

Lucas began his career in the band of Herb Wiedoeft in San Francisco and founded his first band on the west coast of the USA in the early 1930s , with which he went on theater tours throughout the United States and had successful engagements in hotels. He also worked with his orchestra accompanying the first sound films . The band's instrumentation mostly consisted of four saxophones, two trumpets, and a four-piece rhythm section, which was often supplemented by violinists. Another characteristic of his band was that each musician mastered at least two instruments; Lucas himself played the trombone and marimba .

Clyde Lucas & His California Dons was successful with theater guest performances and hotel appearances even during the war years . Lucas recorded a number of records for Vocalion and Columbia Records with his ensemble . As a band singer, Lucas acted himself or a formation called Four Men Only ; their signature tune was "Dance Mood".

In 1936 and 1939 two music films were made (each entitled Clyde Lucas & His Orchestra ); In 1938 Lucas worked with his orchestra alongside the bands of Russ Morgan , Isham Jones and Cab Calloway in the musical film Meet the Maetros entitled "Congo Rhythm".

Clyde Lucas is not to be confused with the American composer and filmmaker of the same name.

literature

• Leo Walker: The Big Band Almanac . Ward Ritchie Press, Pasadena 1978

Web links

• IMDB