JOHNNY LONG - BIOGRAPHY SIGNED CIRCA 1943 - HFSID 27105

JOHNNY LONG
Johnny Long signs a typed biography.
Typed Biography signed: "Johnny Long" at lower margin beneath typed "Signature of Johnny Long", 1p, 8x10½. Typed date: "Mar. 24, 1943". Signed in type: "Irving Cahn". In full: "Appended is the signature of JOHNNY LONG, the famous orchestra leader. Long is a Duke University graduate; catapulted to national fame in the past few years, now signed by Universal Pictures as actor-orchestra leader. When a youngster, his ambition was to be a violin concert artist, but it relaxed when he led the band at Duke. Is desirous to provide good dance music; nothing more. Is a tremendous favorite of the younger set. Last year he had the distinction of providing the dance music at the President's Birthday Party in Washington, attended by the Roosevelts and the most brilliant international society ever gathered under one roof. Mrs. F. D. R. is especially fond of Long. Do trust you might find the specimen interesting enuf (sic) for a column analysis." Lightly creased. Soiled at upper left blank corner, paper clip rust stain at upper left blank margin. Overall, fine condition. Accompanied by Typed Letter Signed: "Irv" as Long's publicist, 1p, 8½x11. New York, New York, 1942 June 23. On letterhead of Irving Cahn Publicity to "Dear Miss Spencer". In full: "Enclosed please find a handwriting specimen from JOHNNY LONG. I hope you might find it interesting enuf (sic) for a column analysis in the News. Long is the conductor of the dance orchestra at the Hotel New Yorker, where he broadcasts a total of three hours a week over Columbia and Mutual, both coast-to-coast. Long recently played at the President's private birthday party in Washington, D.C. He is quite a favorite with the Roosevelt family. Recent popularity polls have never failed to include him with the leaders. He is a tremendous favorite with the younger set throughout the country and recently returned from a national tour, where he broke many attendance records. I'd be delighted to have you be my guest at the New Yorker. If you'd like to see and hear Johnny, I'd be glad to reserve a table for you. Cordially." Lightly shaded at lower blank edge, light paper clip impression at upper left blank margin. Chipped at lower left corner. Overall, fine condition. Left-handed violinist and bandleader Johnny Long (1916-1972) was known as "Mr. Nice Guy" in the big band business. Leading his own group from 1937, Long and his orchestra, whose theme song was "The White Star of Sigma Nu", played the leading hotels and ballrooms on the east coast and mid-west. Long was also a popular radio performer and recording artist, releasing records on Decca as Johnny Long and His Orchestra and backing other singers, including Ella Fitzgerald. A favorite of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his family, Long played at a private birthday party for the FDR in 1942. Long, whose biggest hit was "A Shanty in Old Shanty Town", appeared in a number of films, including Swingin' at the Seance (1941), RKO Jamboree: Johnny Long and His Orchestra (1942) and Hit the Ice and Follies Girl (both 1943), and played gigs in Las Vegas in the late 1950s. Two items.