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The Jazz and Big Band Show

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The Jazz and Big Band Show: A salute to Johnny Parker and Ray McKinley

A salute to Johnny Parker and Ray McKinley

BBC Local Radio - The Jazz and Big Band Show, A salute to Johnny Parker and Ray McKinley

This week's note from Paul...

"Beat me, daddy, eight to the bar"; "Scrub me, mama, with a boogie beat"; "Bounce me, brother, with a solid four"; "Fry me, cookie, with a can of lard". Sheer poetry, the like of which is not composed today. Hear all these numbers and more when The Late Paul Barnes celebrates yet another ton-up boy: drummer, vocalist and bandleader Ray McKinley, born 100 years ago this weekend. 

It was Sergeant McKinley who took over the leadership of the Glenn Miller Army Air Force orchestra after Miller disappeared on a cross-channel flight in 1944. In later years he led an excellent big band of his own, and, at the behest of Miller's widow, he even fronted a so-called "Glenn Miller" orchestra in the fifties. 

"I boogied when I should have woogied", he sang by way of a confession, and everybody forgave him. 

Tune in on Saturday, at 11.00 pm for McKinley - and much, much more. Ah, what riches!


 STOP PRESS

Also in this week's stupendous recital is a salute to pianist Johnny Parker who has just died, aged 80. 

He was in Humphrey Lyttelton's band and figures famously on Humph's hit "Bad Penny Blues". He had a splendidly loose rolling style of playing, well in evidence on "Feline Stomp", recorded at Humph's milestone Conway Hall concert.

Pip, pip ...

The Late PB

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A salute to Johnny Parker and Ray McKinley

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