When Swing Was the Thing: Personality Profiles of the Big Band Era (Reprinted with Corrections)

The Big Band Era of 1935 to 1946 was the only time in America's history when jazz was the most popular form of music. Fifteen piece swinging dance bands swept the country in popularity. The music they played became an important part of America's cultural history and created a level of morale that helped pull us through the Great Depression and World War II. When Swing Was the Thing presents both an excellent introduction to the Era and new information for those already familiar with it, providing detailed profiles of the Era's bandleaders, musicians, vocalists, arrangers, and contributors, many based on personal interviews. This book fully captures the nostalgic flavor of the Big Band Era through 114 vintage photographs and the story of the lives of the people who made it happen.--Publisher's information.

John Tumpak is a jazz journalist who specializes in writing about the Big Band Era. He has been published in the United States, Canada, and England and his articles are archived in several historical societies, universities, and the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. An accomplished and popular public speaker, Tumpak makes Big Band Era presentations at jazz events and organization conferences on a regular basis and frequently appears on radio and television discussing the Era. He is on the Board of Directors of the Big Band Academy of America and covers their annual reunion for jazz publications. Tumpak is also affiliated with the Duke Ellington Jazz Society, Jazz Journalist Association, and Los Angeles Jazz Society.