dangregory.com Blog http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog Dan Gregory Orchestra and Bandmates Dance Bands of 1920's and 1930's Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:45:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Dan Gregory Orchestra 1940’s http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2011/02/24/dan-gregory-orchestra-1940s/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2011/02/24/dan-gregory-orchestra-1940s/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:45:10 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?p=120 Dan Gregory 1940's

Dan Gregory 1940's

]]> http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2011/02/24/dan-gregory-orchestra-1940s/feed/ 0 Dan Gregory 1930’s http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2011/02/24/dan-gregory-1930s/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2011/02/24/dan-gregory-1930s/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:44:23 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?p=118 The Dan Gregory Orchestra Late 1930's

The Dan Gregory Orchestra Late 1930's

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]]> http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2011/02/24/110/feed/ 0 Mitch Gregory-Dan’s Grandson http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/02/02/mitch-gregory-dans-grandson/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/02/02/mitch-gregory-dans-grandson/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:02:41 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?page_id=102 Dan Gregory’s grandson contacted me.
He is a musician too. Check out his website
http://mitchgra.ipower.com/index.html
He grew up next to his grandfather and according to Mitch, Dan continued to play piano, even after a stroke up until his death.

Larry

]]> http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/02/02/mitch-gregory-dans-grandson/feed/ 2 Billy Ennis-Drummer- Dan Gregory Orchestra http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/22/billy-ennis-picture-drummer-dan-gregory/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/22/billy-ennis-picture-drummer-dan-gregory/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:57:02 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?page_id=76 This autographed pic is available for sale from Louis Maitros at The Juke Joint In New Orleans

This autographed pic is available for sale from Louis Maistros at The Juke Joint In New Orleans http://www.thejukejoint.com/bilenobearja.html

]]> http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/22/billy-ennis-picture-drummer-dan-gregory/feed/ 0 Victor Records Label-Dan Gregory Picture http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/22/victor-records-label-dan-gregory-picture/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/22/victor-records-label-dan-gregory-picture/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:24:14 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?page_id=73 Dan Gregorys Orchestra

Dan Gregory's Orchestra

]]> http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/22/victor-records-label-dan-gregory-picture/feed/ 0 Kenny Frew 1st Trumpet-The Dan Gregory Orchestra http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/21/kenny-frew-1st-trumpet-the-dan-gregory-orchestra/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/21/kenny-frew-1st-trumpet-the-dan-gregory-orchestra/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:03:29 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?page_id=66 My father, Kenneth Claude Frew (1902-1986), was first trumpet with Dan Gregory from 1927 through the 1930s. The orchestra was based out of Harrisburg, but my father joined him while he was playing in Leechburg, Pa. one year. Dan is deceased.

(Dan) Gregory worked the Crystal Palace at 66th and Broadway and recorded under several pseudonyms such as Johnson’s Dance Orchestra and Dale’s Dance Orchestra for Cameo Records in 1923. In 1923 my Dad (Kenny Frew)was still back in Leechburg/Vandergrift alternately working at the steel mill or small bands such as Ivan Fiscus. Gregory released two 78s for Victor in 1924 and then “got rid of his high-priced men” as he called them, and went back to Harrisburg to reorganize the band my Dad joined. Gregory by the way, went on to manage Tony Pastor’s Orchestra and helped discover Rosemary Clooney. My Dad died in 1986. I wrote up his story in To A Harmony With Our Souls: a History of Jazz in Central Pennsylvania a few years ago.
Unfortunately my Dad’s not on any of Gregory’s recordings.
-Ken Frew
Research Librarian HSDC

]]> http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/21/kenny-frew-1st-trumpet-the-dan-gregory-orchestra/feed/ 0 Dan Gregory and Kenny Frew (1st trumpet) http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/21/dan-gregory-and-kenny-frew-1st-trumpet/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/21/dan-gregory-and-kenny-frew-1st-trumpet/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:01:42 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?p=63 My father, Kenneth Claude Frew (1902-1986), was first trumpet with Dan Gregory from 1927 through the 1930s. The orchestra was based out of Harrisburg, but my father joined him while he was playing in Leechburg, Pa. one year. Dan is deceased.

(Dan) Gregory worked the Crystal Palace at 66th and Broadway and recorded under several pseudonyms such as Johnson’s Dance Orchestra and Dale’s Dance Orchestra for Cameo Records in 1923. In 1923 my Dad (Kenny Frew)was still back in Leechburg/Vandergrift alternately working at the steel mill or small bands such as Ivan Fiscus. Gregory released two 78s for Victor in 1924 and then “got rid of his high-priced men” as he called them, and went back to Harrisburg to reorganize the band my Dad joined. Gregory by the way, went on to manage Tony Pastor’s Orchestra and helped discover Rosemary Clooney.My Dad died in 1986. I wrote up his story in To A Harmony With Our Souls: a History of Jazz in Central Pennsylvania a few years ago.
Unfortunately my Dad’s not on any of Gregory’s recordings.
-Ken Frew
Research Librarian HSDC

]]> http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/21/dan-gregory-and-kenny-frew-1st-trumpet/feed/ 2 Dan Gregory and Prowell Seitzinger http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/20/prowell-seitinger/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/20/prowell-seitinger/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:45:24 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?p=54 This is really super what you are doing! Much as I love rock and roll (grew up in the 50s), nothing beats the Big Bands and the music of the 1930s and 40s. I saw Elvis perform in concert and have autographs of Buddy Morrow, Ray Anthony and another whose name escapes me from the days when the Big Bands traveled to smaller ballrooms throughout the country. This occurred after the popularity of radio and people felt they could listen to the music of the big bands for free and would no longer pay the price of admission to larger venues. The bands, sometimes reduced in size, cut their fees and traveled to many “podunk” places in the later 1940s and the 1950s. I guess this is why the Junior Prom at Penn State University was able to afford the Glenn Miller Band. Prowell (Seitzinger) would love this. He was a character!
-Judith Witmer

Note-Prowell Seitzinger became the band director for Lower Dauphin County High School in Pennsylvania. -Larry

]]> http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/20/prowell-seitinger/feed/ 2 Close up 1940-1941 http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/19/close-up-1940-1941/ http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/2009/01/19/close-up-1940-1941/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:26:17 +0000 Administrator http://rosewoodandsteel.com/blog/?page_id=51 Close up 1940-1941?

Close up 1940-1941?

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