Berl Olswanger and the Olswanger Beat
Release Date: May 28, 2021
Catalog #: BR8969
Format: Digital
20th Century
Jazz
Piano
Trombone
Trumpet

Berl Olswanger and the Olswanger Beat

Berl Olswanger piano
Art Sutton trombone
Pee Wee Wamble trumpet
Tommy Bennett electric bass
Byron Hudson clarinet
Bobby Ryan drums
Jeanie Page vocals

Blues and big band lovers are in for a swingin’ treat with Big Round Records’ new archival recording of BERL OLSWANGER AND THE OLSWANGER BEAT, the label’s third released recording by “Mr. Music of Memphis.” Olswanger, whose musical career spanned over a half-century, could easily be called a jack-of-all-trades: a popular bandleader, a prolific composer of swing music, a serial entrepreneur, and a wildly successful teacher bringing the art of music-making to the masses.

Hardly a surprise, then, that the music is as vibrant and upbeat as the man. Showcasing Olswanger’s keen awareness for both rhythm and his audience’s predilections, this album compiles an avalanche of true-blue foot-tappers, each more riveting than the last. The eleven tunes are by Clarence Williams, Lucy Fletcher, W.C. Handy, Sammy Cahn, and more, including Olswanger himself.

Dishing out the most popular music in Memphis for years wasn’t a one-man proposition for Olswanger. He always pointed the finger of fame at the musicians and long-time comrades in the Berl Olswanger Orchestra, featured with him on this album—Art Sutton on trombone, who once had a band of his own and played the South’s most wicked tailgate trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, one of the old Swift Jewel Cowboys, who was an ace at almost any instrument; Tommy Bennett, on electric bass, who played with Olswanger since they were junior high school classmates together; Byron Hudson, who was staff clarinetist at WREC-TV and assistant to Olswanger on arrangements; talented Bobby Ryan, who played drums; and young Jeanie Page, a vocalist who grew up in show business.

Many reasons were given for the popularity of the Berl Olswanger Orchestra with Memphis audiences, but the reason most given over the years was that this was the band with an intoxicating beat. Even out-of-town bands, when performing or passing through Memphis, came to listen. BERL OLSWANGER AND THE OLSWANGER BEAT, originally released in 1964 under Olswanger’s own Rivermont label and now digitized on Big Round Records, was the answer to hundreds of requests from fans who couldn’t get enough of the “Olswanger Beat.”

Listen

Hear the full album on YouTube

"This takes you back, the solos are well defined. Joyous dance music from an era when dances were family events."

Cadence Jazz Magazine

Track Listing & Credits

# Title Composer Performer
01 Sutton's Lick Art Sutton and Berl Olswanger Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums 2:45
02 Sugar Blues Clarence Williams and Lucy Fletcher Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums 2:40
03 Alley Cat Frank Björn Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums 2:13
04 South Rampart Street Parade Ray Bauduc and Bob Haggart Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums 2:54
05 Saint Louis Blues W.C. Handy Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums 3:45
06 At a Georgia Camp Meeting Kerry Mills Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums 3:39
07 Rhythm Is Our Business Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, Jimmie Lunceford Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums; Jeanie Page, vocals 3:02
08 Big Mistreatin' Bittersweet'n Blues Berl Olswanger Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums; Jeanie Page, vocals 2:35
09 After You've Gone Henry Creamer and Turner Layton Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums; Jeanie Page, vocals 2:19
10 Yellow Dog Blues W.C. Handy Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums 2:36
11 The Third Man Theme Anton Karas and Walter Lord Berl Olswanger, piano; Art Sutton, trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, trumpet; Tommy Bennett, electric bass; Byron Hudson, clarinet; Bobby Ryan, drums 2:55

Original album released 1964, by Rivermont Records

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee

Track 1 copyright © 1964 Berl Olswanger, ASCAP

Track 8 copyright © 1958 Berl Olswanger, ASCAP, copyright © renewed 1986 Anna Olswanger, ASCAP

Historical Consultant Pete Vescovo

Digitization for Big Round Records Paul Adams/Adams Media Preservation

General Manager of Audio & Sessions Jan Košulič
Recording Sessions Director Levi Brown
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
Addtl. Mastering Shaun Michaud

Executive Producer Bob Lord

Executive A&R Sam Renshaw
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil

VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Patrick Niland, Sara Warner

Artist Information

Berl Olswanger

Pianist

Berl Olswanger, dubbed "Mr. Music of Memphis" by the local press, grew up in Memphis in the 1920s and 1930s where he heard music that would later influence him as a composer. He quickly developed an affinity for the piano and began playing professionally at the age of 12. After a stint on WMC radio in his twenties, he joined the tour of the George Olsen Orchestra, which led him across the country from New York to Hollywood as he accompanied legendary acts like Bing Crosby and Jack Benny.

Notes

FROM THE BACK COVER OF BERL OLSWANGER ORCHESTRA WITH THE OLSWANGER BEAT

Berl Olswanger has been a recognized leader in music circles since he was 12 years old and had his own radio show. Except for a four-year tour of duty in the United States Navy during World War II, his name has been synonymous with “Mr. Music of Memphis.”

The outstanding orchestra grew from solo playing engagements with Berl at the piano. Clients would request that an instrument or two be added for cocktail music and after a few years, the orchestra was born. It was in so much demand that at one point, Berl could no longer accept solo playing engagements.

The musicians are Art Sutton on trombone, who once had a band of his own and plays the South’s most wicked tailgate trombone; Pee Wee Wamble, hot trumpet man, one of the old Swift Jewel Cowboys and a genius at almost any instrument; Tommy Bennett on electric bass, a terrific ear man who attended junior high school with Berl and has been playing with him since they were kids; Byron Hudson, staff clarinetist at WREC-TV and assistant to Berl on arrangements; talented, young Bobby Ryan, alternate on the drums; and lovely, young Jeanie Page, the vocalist who grew up in show business, with a repertoire of hundreds of songs.

Many reasons have been given for the popularity of the orchestra. Some folks say it’s their personalities, while others say it’s their interesting arrangements, the showmanship and variety of their costumes, because the band has a knack for being able to please any age group, or because Berl can feel the pulse of the crowd and recognize the mood during the first set. But the reason heard most is that this is the band with an intoxicating beat. Out-of-town bands, when performing or passing through Memphis, come to listen.

All the musicians played with name bands before joining Berl. The Berl Olswanger Orchestra has a combined total of 234 years of playing experience! Not only is this something few bands can say, it could account for the sound of this band with a “beat.” Teenagers are always amazed that their rock-and-roll music can be played with the authentic beat by an adult group that uses no guitars, except the electric bass.

Country clubs, debutante parties, receptions, and conventions keep the band booked solid six months in advance. Many dates are held for a year or more. Large corporations have flown the band to sales meetings all over the country because the “Olswanger Beat” gives their salesmen the rousing sendoff needed to get them excited over new sales promotions.

Berl is famous for his personalized floor shows for large companies and conventions. He writes material exclusively for the client, such as parodies and puns about the product or service and the people. This material is memorized by Jeanie Page and alternate vocalist Linda Lewis, and it never fails to produce a show that leaves a captivated audience enthusiastically asking for more.

Aside from his popular orchestra, the name Berl Olswanger is recognized on the marquee of two fun-filled busy music stores that together house one of the South’s largest and most complete music centers, with franchised lines of leading musical instruments and accessories, two music schools where thousands have flocked to learn to play “the easy, Berl Olswanger way” using the popular simplified method Berl himself wrote and published, and the Berl Olswanger Entertainment Bureau, a booking agency that can supply a variety of talent from rock & roll groups to dance bands, organists, pianists, accordionists, violinists, clowns, comedians, magicians, opera stars, dancers, folk singers, and sing-alongs.

In addition to being involved in all the above activities, Berl finds time to appear on a daily television show.

This long-playing record is an answer to hundreds of requests from fans who can’t get enough of the “Olswanger Beat.”