American swing band, the Casa Loma Orchestra, was active between 1927 and 1963. Although it did not tour until 1950, the group continued to record studio music. It was originally known as the Orange Blossoms in 1927, one of many Detroit-area groups that emerged from the Jean Goldkette office. Although it was initially a cooperative organization, Hank Biagini was the leader for the first few decades. However, Glen Gray (1900-1963), was the ultimate leader. By the time the band recorded its first recordings in 1929 the Casa Loma name had been adopted. This was shortly after it played an 8-month engagement at Casa Loma, a hotel in Toronto. Lead trombonist Billy Rauch pointed out that the band never played Casa Loma[(under its name, since it was originally known as the Orange Blossoms )]..} The Casa Loma Orchestra was a top North American dance band from 1929 to the rapid increase in the number swing bands starting in 1935. It featured Pee Wee Hunt as trombonist, Clarence Hutchenrider as clarinettist, Clarence Hutchenrider as trumpeter, Clarence Hutchenrider and Tony Briglia, along with Kenny Sargent as singer. Gene Gifford composed many of the band’s books, Spud Murphy and Larry Wagner, Salvador “Tutti” Camarata, Horace Henderson, and many arrangements. Their popularity grew with their appearances on The Camel Caravan, a long-running radio comedy-variety show. Some of their hits include “Casa Loma Stomp”, “No Name Jive” or “Maniac’s Ball”. The band’s demise was partly due to the fact that other large bands included hard-swinging numbers imitating Casa Loma. Gray was the top-billed act in the 1930s, and Gray would become the owner of the band and Casa Loma. The band was briefly led by guitarist Herb Ellis and Bobby Hackett as well as pianist Nick Denucci, Red Nichols, and pianist Nick Denucci. The Casa Loma group had stopped touring by 1950. Gray moved to Massachusetts and the recordings of Capitol (the Sounds of the Great Bands) were made by studio musicians from Hollywood. You can also access user-contributed text under the Creative Commons By–SA License.
