Dark Monday • Dancin'

In 1978, Fosse had an idea that was really new. He wanted to do a show that pulled music from popular culture, with no real story or singing. He proposed that idea for 'Dancin'', starring exactly what the title suggests, dancing. The music came from so many sources, be it Pop, Rock, Swing, or any other form of music. He wanted nothing written for the show, just music that could inspire him to make magic. The show utilized the music of Neil Diamond, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johnny Mercer, Carole Bayer Sager & Melissa Manchester, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Sigmund Romberg, and John Philip Sousa, among others.

One of the songs was "Sing! Sing" Sing! (With A Swing)", written in 1936 by Louis Prima, with the most popular recording being by Benny Goodman that same year. The performance was featured on the Tony Awards telecast, so we are lucky enough to have that preserved for all time. This is the Broadway cast of 'Dancin'' in the musical number "Sing! Sing" Sing! (With A Swing)".



For this production, Bob Fosse was the Tony Award for Best Choreography that year. It was his 7th win, and he eventually ended up with a remarkable 8 Tony Awards for choreography. He also had another for Best Direction of a Musical for the 1973 production of 'Pippin'. The show ran for almost 1,800 performances, ensuring it was a big hit. In fact, because Fosse co-produced the show, 'Dancin'' became his biggest financial success in the theater.

Disney Does Jazz

Once upon a time, in a cartoon far, far away, a man named Walt Disney took animation to new levels when he was producing feature length animated movie musicals, complete with new scores and some of the top musical talents of the day. Whether the films were telling classic fairy tales, or some original stories, they had a different spin than anyone else was bringing to animated films. That included the music, and the singers and musicians involved as well. Disney Studios employed some of the best, and often brought in some of the wonderful Jazz performers of the day. Check out one of the early examples of the Jazz influence at Disney with Cliff Edwards and the Hall Johnson Choir singing When I See An Elephant Fly from the 1941 film, Dumbo.



In 1955, the studio invited Miss Peggy Lee to appear as one of my favorite characters from Lady & the Tramp, Peg the Lhaso Apso. Like many of the characters from the movie, she has fallen in love with Tramp and sings He's A Tramp.



In 1967, Disney took a book by Rudyard Kipling and gave it that special something only Disney could bring. They brought in drummer and bandleader Phil Harris to sing The Bare Necessities from Jungle Book.



In the same movie, they hired Louis Prima to bring his New Orleans-style Swing to the table as King Louie, leader of the Apes. He sings I Wanna Be Like You, a real standout from the score of Jungle Book.



Finally, in the 1970 animated film, The Aristocats, just chock-full of amazing talent. When Scatman Crothers, Phil Harris, Robie Lester and friends get together to perform Ev'rybody Wants To Be A Cat, the whole joint is rockin' in one of the high points to an entertaining film.



For more about the Disney animated musicals, check out the official Disney website here.