Betty Boop 1932 Don Redman "I Heard"

Don Redman featured in the 1932 Betty Boop cartoon, "I Heard" as a guest artist. The cartoon begins with live footage of Don and his Orchestra, playing "Chant of the Weed," one of Don's best-known compositions. Further on in the cartoon, we hear Don singing two of his other trademark pieces, "How'm I Doin'?" and "I Heard." The words to "How'm I Doin'?" were modified for the cartoon.

Don Redman was an excellent composer, band leader, arranger, vocalist, and wind instrument prodigy and his vocal style was absolutely unlike any other: a quiet half singing, half speaking that is alluring and playful.

We heard Don Redman performing with Louis Armstrong in "It's Tight Like That," a really funny song with Don saying in his quiet, soft, mischievous voice, "It's tight like that, Louis," to which Louis replies, in his deep growl, "No it ain't tight like that."
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http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=10605
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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Betty Boop
• Don Redman
• Fleisher studios
• 1932
• talkartoon
• Don Redman Orchestra
• Bimbo
• Koko
• I Heard

[ilSagitdeMoi]

i can certainly say Betty Boop is the best cartoon i've seen, and i know her since just a week ago

[biscuit2boy]

I can't believe there is one idiot who said 'dislike'. It's great!!!!

[baxterfilms]

@msotil: Paramount owned Fleischers. Paramount gave the musicians money - and even a public appearance to boot - if they did it.

[jessthehorse]

Great music and God bless the Fleischer Brothers

[greenriverblues911]

this cartoon is fuckin tight. Don redman is a genius

[robchalfen]

the Petrillo ban ran from 31 July '42 until whenever a label signed with the union, not in the early '30s. A second ban ran briefly in '48.

[harlanlattimore]

I asked the same question of Edward Inge in the mid-80's, why this was made, and he told me it was all about exposure. The band business then, particularly during the depths of the depression, was very dog-eat-dog, and any sort of exposure was more than welcome. Ed also recalled recording the soundtrack

[HallandaleDeb]

Cab Calloway did cartoons. It was a great venue for musicians. The orchestras for Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies were top-notch. Just listen. It was certainly NOT a step down. My exposure to jazz and classical music has remained with me my whole life. I could sing many classical and jazz themes from cartoons. I hope kids today get to hear and see these treasures. Although they are probably censored for many reasons including characters that smoke (oooooooh)

[msotil]

Why did Don Redman appear in a cartoon? That was not rare. Probably the pay was good. Also in those days, the James Petrillo the boss of the Musicians Union had banned all recordings by union members (all musicians), so musicians had to make a living some other way. Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and others did appear in cartoons...

[ziggycat999]

If Don Redman was such a musical genius......why is he doing cartoons??

[oldtimemoonshine77]

Amen to that!

[Gangstagran]

What surrealistic genius. And Don Redman's music. Bliss!

[u2bwo]

Great toon, great tune!