dangregory.com Blog

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

Dan Gregory Orchestra 1938-1938

Dan Gregory is to your far right holding the baton.
Kenny Frew (1st Trumpet) is sitting directly to the drummer’s right (hair parted in the middle).
Ray Ripani (tenor) is sitting in the front row right next to Gregory.

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

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

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