Okay, jazz lovers, here’s some old-time stuff. When HG entered the early teenage years, there were two jazz programs on New York radio. Symphony Sid (think he was sponsored by the Hollywood Al’s clothing store) and Fred Robbins’s Robbins Nest. Robbins was HG’s favorite. With the radio close to the pillows of HG’s bed, HG was beguiled by Robbins’s eclectic array of jazz greats. Billie Holliday, Maxine Sullivan, Anita O’Day were among the female vocalists. Mel “The Velvet Fog” Torme was HG’s male fave (plus the very eccentric Slim Gaillard). Robbins had a wide range. He played Dixieland (mainly Louis Armstrong), mainstream jazz (Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Red Norvo, etc.) and even some European groups like The Hot Club of France with Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grapelli. The best was Robbins’s emphasis on small groups which he termed: “Intime and On The Beam.” Finally, he was one of the first to play Charlie Parker, Tad Dameron and other bebop pioneers. Fred had a long (and lucrative) career on radio and TV. He hosted game shows and produced and directed much TV. But,it was as a pioneering, adventurous jazz disc jockey that he gave HG maximum pleasure. (As for Symphony Sid: He had a 36 year history on radio–starting in 1937 on radio station WBNX in The Bronx. He was probably the first white disc jockey to play the music of Black jazz musicians. Like Robbins, he was a pioneering advocate of bebop).
“Jumpin’ with my boy, Sid in the city
Mr. President of the DJ committee..”
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I can still hear that distinctive Sid voice introducing something by Olatunji and the Drums of Passion. … Akiwowo, HG
Hey, my favorite cineaste, glad you follow Hungry Gerald. Miss you and Sandra.