When one thinks of such songs as “About A Quarter To Nine,” “She’s A Latin From Manhattan,” “Is It True What They Say About Dixie,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and “Change Partners,” the names of Al Jolson and Fred Astaire come to mind, but not that of Ozzie Nelson. Yet those were among the 38 songs that Nelson recorded with his big band that made the charts in the 1930s.
Ozzie Nelson (1906-75) became famous for his television series the Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet which was popular during 1952-66. It was preceded by an equally successful radio series during 1944-54; for two years The Ozzie and Harriet Show was on both television and radio. It is a little odd that his television series, while a major factor in making his son Ricky Nelson into a singing pop star, never hinted even once at Ozzie’s musical background.
Before those shows originated, Ozzie Nelson was a singer who led an excellent if now-forgotten big band. Nelson started out influenced by Rudy Vallee although his own likable personality and sincere delivery always shone through. As the 1930s progressed, his orchestra gradually became open to playing swing. Most notable among his soloists were the great if obscure baritone-saxophonist Charlie Buebeck, violinist Sid Brokaw, and trumpeter Bo Ashford. Many of their best jazz-oriented recordings were reissued years ago on the collectors
