CASA LOMA ORCHESTRA - AUTOGRAPH CO-SIGNED BY: GLEN GRAY, PEE WEE HUNT, GRADY WATTS, FRANK RYERSON, CY BAKER, TONY BRIGLIA, JACK BLANCHETTE, PAT DAVIS, CLARENCE HUTCHENRIDER, BILLY RAUCH, DAN D'ANDREA, DENNY DENNIS, JOE HALL, ART RALSTON, KENNY SARGENT - HFSID 225968

GLENN GRAY and THE CASA LOMA ORCHESTRA
Glenn Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra sign a piece of paper
Signatures: "Best wishes/Glen Gray", "Grady Watts", "Frank Ryerson", "Cy Baker", "Murray McEachern", "Tony Briglia", "Jack Blanchette", "Pat Davis", "Clarence Hutchenrider", "Pee Wee Hunt", "Billy Rauch", "Dan D'Andrea", "Denny Dennis", "Joe Hall", "Art Ralston" and "Kenny Sargent", 10½-inch diameter circle. The Casa Loma Orchestra was the first "swing band", paving the way for the success of Benny Goodman and other bands of the 1930s-1940s. Originally named the Orange Blossoms, the group was formed in Detroit as an offshoot of Jean Goldkette's orchestra. Saxophone player GLEN GRAY (1906-1963), then known as Spike Knoblaugh, joined the group in the winter of 1925-1926, the year before the band was booked into a new Toronto club, the Casa Loma. The club, which was built in preparation for a visit from the Prince of Wales, never opened, but the Orange Blossoms adopted its name. Gray, who was elected the President and leader of the Casa Loma Orchestra, became its front man in 1937, four years after the group had been featured on the Camel Caravan radio program to become the first swing band to appear on a commercial radio series. The group, which recorded on several labels, experienced several changes in personnel before it was disbanded in 1945, but the signatures offered here include those of a number of the prominent members of the Casa Loma Orchestra. GRADY WATTS played trumpet. Trumpet player FRANK RYERSON also co-wrote (with Grady Watts and Jimmy Eaton) the jazz classic, "Blue Champagne". Trumpeter player CY BAKER also played with the orchestras of both Dorsey brothers and Buddy Rich. MURRAY McEACHERN (1915-1982) played trombone and alto sax for the Casa Loma Orchestra from 1937-1941. He had previously played with Benny Goodman (1936-1937) and would go on to perform in the orchestras of Paul Whiteman, Harry James and Duke Ellington. TONY BRIGLIA, who played the drums, was also in the orchestras of Louis Armstrong and Hoagy Carmichael. JACK BLANCHETTE was considered one of the most accomplished guitarists of the Big Band era. He knew guitar great Les Paul very well, and counted Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington among his friends. FRANK ALLEN "PAT" DAVIS, who played for the Casa Loma Orchestra from 1929-1943, was a tenor saxophonist. CLARENCE HUTCHENRIDER (1908-1991) was a clarinetist. Trombonist WALTER "PEE WEE" HUNT (1907-1979) was with the Casa Loma Orchestra for 14 years (1929-1943). Although his trombone solos were often featured, Hunt was also known for his good-humored, sometimes comedic, vocals. BILLY RAUCH played the trombone. DAN D'ANDREA was a vocalist with the orchestra. STAN "DENNY" DENNIS played string bass. JOE HALL was a pianist. ART RALSTON played bassoon, alto sax and oboe. KENNY SARGENT (1906-1969), was a vocalist and saxophone player known for his smooth ballads . He was one of the primary vocalists of the Casa Loma orchestra. He left the group in 1943 but returned to lead the Orchestra in the late 1940s. Circle irregularly cut. The "t" in Sargent touches musical note. Slightly soiled near edges. Otherwise, fine condition.