Rapture Records

Song: Red Silk Stockings and Green Perfume / That’s My Desire

Artist: Sammy Kaye with Don Cornell

Record Label: RCA Victor 20-2251

Released: 1947

Location: KTI Radio

Catchy tune that evokes images of the Wild West while driving around the palm trees of Los Angeles.

Sammy Kaye, shortened from Samuel Zarnocay Jr., has an unusual place amongst Big Band leaders. He tended to focus more on sweet, sentimental music rather than the showy and loud music of jazz and swing. His tagline, “swing and sway”, refers to the romantic ballads his band played for thousands over the radio.

Kaye (no relation to Danny Kaye) started his band, The Ohioans, while attending Ohio University. His first big break came from bookings at Pittsburgh’s Bill Green’s Casino and at Cleveland’s Hotel Statler in 1935. Then in November of 1930 he started playing at New York’s famous Commodore Hotel under “Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye”.

He introduced many gimmicks for radio: most famously, he would leave off with, “And know the band will be playing..” and have the vocalist sing the title of the song. This “singing of song titles” would be emulated by the likes of Kay Kyser and Blue Barron. Another bit would be where he would invite an audience members to conduct his orchestra in “So You Want To Lead A Band?”. Winners received a baton.

He also hosted “Sunday Serenades” of easy listening music and slow dance tunes. During the segment, he would read listener-submitted poetry, perhaps in an overly syrupy voice, with the band accompanying lushly.

It was during one of his famed “Sunday Serenades” on December 7, 1941 that his show was interrupted by the announcement of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Sammy Kaye would write the music to “Remember Pearl Harbor” with Don Reid’s lyrics. Remembering his Ohio roots, he drew inspiration from his school song “Alma Mater, Ohio”.

Some of his other hits include: Room Full of Roses, Walkin’ to Missouri, and Harbor Lights. Amusing, all of his band members would sometimes provide backing vocals as the “Kaydets”, most prominent on “Daddy”.

Don Cornell was particularly smooth crooner known for his robust baritone. He frequently performed with Sammy Kaye’s orchestra and trumpeter Red Nichols. Hits hits include “I’ll Walk Alone”, “Hold My Hand”, and “I Came Here to Talk to Joe”.

He would obtain the unusual distinction of having the shortest single character pop chart hit with his 1952 “I”.

Listen to the flip side “That’s My Desire” here.