For the second part of series dedicated to music that pre-dates the big band era, we take a look at a few specific characters responsible for taking the influences of early jazz and transforming it into the ‘pop’ music of its day.

Featured tracks include;

1) Four or Five Times – McKinney’s Cotton Pickers

2) Peggy – McKinney’s Cotton Pickers

3) My Blue Heaven – Don Voorhees & his Orchestra

4) The Blue Room – Joe Venuti’s Blue Four

5) Doin’ Things – Joe Venuti’s Blue Four

6) Wildcat - Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang

7) Happy Days Are Here Again – Ben Selvin & his Orchestra

8) Dardenella – Ben Selvin & his Orchestra

9) Lafayette – Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra

10) South – Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra

11) Moten Swing – Count Basie w/ Bennie Moten’s Orchestra

12) For Dancers Only – Jimmie Lunceford & his Orchestra

13) Swingin’ Uptown – Jimmie Lunceford & his Orchestra

14) Organ Grinder’s Swing – Jimmie Lunceford & his Orchestra

15) T’Ain’t What’cha Do, It’s the Way That You Do It – Jimmie Lunceford & his Orchestra