01 When You Wish Upon A Star - Cliff Edwards 1940
02 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Andrews Sisters 1941
03 As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson 1942
04 You’ll Never Know - Frank Sinatra 1943
05 Swinging On A Star - Bing Crosby 1944
06 Lover Man - Sarah Vaughan with Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker 1945
07 I Love You For Sentimental Reasons - Nat ‘King’ Cole 1946
08 I’m Looking Over A Four-Leaf Clover - Russ Morgan & Orchestra 1947
09 Ballerina - Buddy Clarke 1948
10 Baby It’s Cold Outside - Dinah Shore & Buddy Clarke 1949
World War 2 saw the decline of Swing as many musicians were conscripted. Big bands and jazz were still popular in the ‘40s and music was about entertaining he crowds. Crooning, which was developed in the ‘30s, became very popular through artista like Bing Crosby. The Dorsey Brothers as bandleaders helped to launch many careers, including Frank Sinatra who became the first teen idol through his popularity with teenage girls.
In Jazz, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald were prominent performers.
Big band music was declining through this period as the crooners became more popular. However, Glenn Miller with his band was extremely popular throughout the war years until his untimely death.
In Britain, Vera Lynne was keeping spirits high with her songs ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and ‘The White Cliffs Of Dover’.
It is important not to forget the contribution of black artists throughout this period. As well as the well known jazz bands and vocalists there was a new scene developing..Rhythm & Blues, which was important in the development of Rock’n’Roll..
I will go into this, as with all the eras & genres, in more detailed programs later.
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Read about the '60s
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