Big Band Music and Bandleaders
The classic big bands and swing bands of the 30s, 40s and 50s, their bandleaders, and all their best websites!
Oldies Music Glossary: "Big Band"
A basic guide to "beach music" and "shag music," its best and most popular artists, bands, singers, and songs, and a history of how the style fits into other areas of pop and rock music. From the Oldies music guide at About.com.
A basic guide to "beach music" and "shag music," its best and most popular artists, bands, singers, and songs, and a history of how the style fits into other areas of pop and rock music. From the Oldies music guide at About.com.
Louis Jordan: Number Ones
Your oldies.about.com Guide's review: the new single-CD collection of this jump-blues and swing pioneer's Number One records, hugs R&B hits that paved the way for rock and roll!
Your oldies.about.com Guide's review: the new single-CD collection of this jump-blues and swing pioneer's Number One records, hugs R&B hits that paved the way for rock and roll!
52nd Street: Stan Kenton
One of the more progressive, ambitious, and controversial big-band bandleaders. This is technically a website for his orchestra, but it contains lots of info on Stan himself.
One of the more progressive, ambitious, and controversial big-band bandleaders. This is technically a website for his orchestra, but it contains lots of info on Stan himself.
Any Swing Goes
Geared towards the swing revival, this is a solid site featuring discussion, news, chat, and sound files of vintage and recent swing songs.
Geared towards the swing revival, this is a solid site featuring discussion, news, chat, and sound files of vintage and recent swing songs.
Artie Shaw
The official site for the reclusive "King Of Swing" who made standards like "Stardust" and "Begin The Beguine."
The official site for the reclusive "King Of Swing" who made standards like "Stardust" and "Begin The Beguine."
BandsofRenown.com
Les Brown and his Band Of Renown has this official website with lots of info on the man best known for "Leap Frog."
Les Brown and his Band Of Renown has this official website with lots of info on the man best known for "Leap Frog."
Big Band Radio.com
The Internet's premier big band radio station, featuring remotes from the golden era of swing music, as well as interviews, articles, and more.
The Internet's premier big band radio station, featuring remotes from the golden era of swing music, as well as interviews, articles, and more.
Big Bands International
Arguably the leading magazine dedicated to big band and swing music; over a quarter-century old, this quarterly is published by one of the world's largest Big Band appreciation societies.
Arguably the leading magazine dedicated to big band and swing music; over a quarter-century old, this quarterly is published by one of the world's largest Big Band appreciation societies.
Craig's Big Bands and Big Names
Vintage reviews of classic swing performances, and also a few editorials, articles, and some memorabilia. Also features a radio show and bulletin board!
Vintage reviews of classic swing performances, and also a few editorials, articles, and some memorabilia. Also features a radio show and bulletin board!
Dismuke's 1920s and 1930s Electrical Recordings
A wonderful place to hear Real Audio files of classic (and often obscure) swing and big-band songs, although there are other styles here as well. Over 125 selections!
A wonderful place to hear Real Audio files of classic (and often obscure) swing and big-band songs, although there are other styles here as well. Over 125 selections!
Duke Ellington
The official site for the jazz legend, who is best known for standards like "Take The 'A' Train" and "Satin Doll."
The official site for the jazz legend, who is best known for standards like "Take The 'A' Train" and "Satin Doll."
Glenn Miller
This is the official site for the most famous of the big bandleaders. Lots of Miller merchandise for sale, as well!
This is the official site for the most famous of the big bandleaders. Lots of Miller merchandise for sale, as well!
Perez Prado, King of the Mambo
A good bio and complete discography of this legendary bandleader, it helps you find the best songs in his catalog.
A good bio and complete discography of this legendary bandleader, it helps you find the best songs in his catalog.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Louis Jordan
The world's greatest jump blues artist, Jordan practically defined the postwar period with hits like "Caldonia" and "Saturday Night Fish Fry."
The world's greatest jump blues artist, Jordan practically defined the postwar period with hits like "Caldonia" and "Saturday Night Fish Fry."
Southern California Lindy Society
Dedicated to practicioners of the Lindy Hop young and old, as well as the other swing dances that grew from it. Exhaustive, yet fun!
Dedicated to practicioners of the Lindy Hop young and old, as well as the other swing dances that grew from it. Exhaustive, yet fun!
The Big Band Era
A monthly online journal that discusses various big band eras, styles, and performers, and then offers up mp3s of their greatest songs!
A monthly online journal that discusses various big band eras, styles, and performers, and then offers up mp3s of their greatest songs!
The Big Band Jump
One of America's preeminent swing music radio shows, playing weekly on a station (hopefully) near you!
One of America's preeminent swing music radio shows, playing weekly on a station (hopefully) near you!
The Big Bands Database Plus
By far the most complete repository of Big Band and Swing information, with page upon page of info, including a near-complete list of bands from all over the world, a guide to songwriters, a series of articles on swing music, history, and culture, and much, much more! Outstanding.
By far the most complete repository of Big Band and Swing information, with page upon page of info, including a near-complete list of bands from all over the world, a guide to songwriters, a series of articles on swing music, history, and culture, and much, much more! Outstanding.
The State 51 String Orchestra
A UK-based big band that plays the swing music classics of the past 60 years!
A UK-based big band that plays the swing music classics of the past 60 years!
Tommy Dorsey
One-half of the famous Dorsey brothers, this trombonist gained his greatest fame with his own big band. A bio from Wolverine Antique Music Society.
One-half of the famous Dorsey brothers, this trombonist gained his greatest fame with his own big band. A bio from Wolverine Antique Music Society.
Tuxedo Junction
Devoted entirely to big band and swing music, this site offers a wealth of information on the subject(s), including numerous articles, biographies, and a jukebox stuffed with MIDI files. A little hard to navigate, though, and you'll definitely want to turn off your pop-ups first.
Devoted entirely to big band and swing music, this site offers a wealth of information on the subject(s), including numerous articles, biographies, and a jukebox stuffed with MIDI files. A little hard to navigate, though, and you'll definitely want to turn off your pop-ups first.