Items From The ZB's

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 155, 12 June 1942, Page 21

Items From The ZB's

: WELVE songs in twelve minutes is the pace set in the new musical feature, "Song-a-Minute Serenade," now playing from the ZB stations every Saturday night at 7.15. The three artists who contribute to this rapid-fire programme (a picture of them with their producer appears on this page) are Beatrice Oakley (soprano), William Herbert (tenor) and Lola Grahame (pianist). Right from the opening commercial announcement there is no let-up; an excerpt from opera being followed by some popular number which in turn may be followed by a Strauss waltz. Piano themes help to preserve continuity. DURING his visit to Melbourne in 1937 Lawrence Tibbett was so impressed by Beatrice Oakley’s voice that he gave her a series of personal lessons and a letter of introduction to his own teacher, Frank La Forge. Prior to this, at the age of 18, Miss Oakley had won a Melba Scholarship, the last to be awarded by Melba before her death. In 1932 she was the only Melbourne girl invited to tour with the visiting Italian Grand Opera company. A trip to England and America to continue her studies was interrupted by the war. Lola Grahame is official accompanist to the National Theatre Movement, Melbourne, She studied under Sheila MacFie. William Herbert was discovered by Dr. Floyd in 1940 when he sang in a Christmas Messiah at Melbourne. He was leading boy soprano at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, for five years, and is only 20 years of age now. NE of America’s most famous "blues": bands is a combination led by Woody Herman, 26-year-old clarinettist, who is one of the musicians most responsible for the re-birth of the blues in the United States. A programme featuring Woody Herman and his band in a selection ranging all the way from blues to swing to Latin rhythm, will be heard from 3ZB at 10.15 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, and should be an event for swing fans. Born in Wisconsin, Herman started playing a saxophoge at the age of nine, and the clarinet at eleven. A year later he turned professional. He continued his education even while touring in vaudeville, but after a course at Marquette University he concentrated on music, joining Gus Arnheim’s old band. Jobs with Harry Sosnik, Tom Gerun, and Isham Jones followed. When Jones retired and his musicians disbanded, Herman organised a co-opera-tive orchestra) which was known as "Woody Herman and his Orchestra, Inc." Swing Magazine has picked Herman as "the band leader most likely to hit the top in 1942."