Ray Starita and his band..l've got a feeling....1930

A wonderful relaxed,yet swinging tune by Ray Starita with his older brother Rudy. Ray had just left the Ambassadors Hotel after 3 years and at this time was replacing Ted Lewis at the Kit Kat restaurant in London's west end district.The whole tune is beautifully held together by Arthur Calkin's majestic string bass playing.Some nice throaty sax from Chester Smith.and Bix style trumpet from Nobby Knight.Ray and Al Starita came to Britain in 1922 playing in Frank Guarante's Georgians band.Employment then arrived with the Savoy Orpheans in 1924 and 25.Hylton prised Al away to form the Kit Kat Band in 1926 and then Hylton got Ray into the Ambassadors Hotel in 1927.Along came Rudy to play in Ray's band.Rudy stayed in England for over 20 years,finally leaving in the late 40s.Al had the classic Italian temperament,Ray was milder,but still fiery at times and Rudy had the warmest personality.Without these three, the British dance band scene would not have climbed such heights as heard in this great record

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ratarita/british
• dance
• bands/nostalgia/1930s
• music

[tavriadriver]

Fantastic!!

[davidglow3]

@tavriadriver Always great to hear the good news of someone liking the record.Thanks for listening

[worldecho]

Great record - this is the rare non-vocal version which wasn't issued here in the UK but was made for release in continental Europe. Not sure what you mean by M&S Stores? It was recorded by Columbia, a major label that had no connection with or sales outlet in M&S stores. You may be thinking of his later records for Sterno?

[davidglow3]

@worldecho Having checked,you are spot on..It was recorded before he moved on to Sterno and it was the Sterno records that was sold exclusively in M&S...Thanks for listening

[davidglow3]

Glad you approve..Wonderful arrangement and great playing yet it was only for the M&S stores customers..1930 was a superb year for British dance bands

[roybo1930]

Ray Starita is just too DIE FOR indeed! What a super AWESOME BAND! I don`t know of any of his records I don`t just LOVE!

[mic33george]

Absolute gem-never heard this before.You are right relaxed but swinging-The Staritas in 1930 were brilliant-many thanks