The Georgians
Encyclopedia
The Georgians was a prominent United States jazz & dance band of the early 1920s that recorded on Columbia Records
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The Georgians were the solo band Nat Gonella
founded on his departure from Lew Stone
and his Orchestra in 1934. He had already experimented as a solo artist in small groups and with the American pianist Garland Wilson
but this was the first band to carry Nat's name.
The band featured his brother Bruts on second trumpet, the South African Pat Smuts on Tenor Saxophone, Albert Torrance on Alto Sax, Harold "Baby" Hood on Piano, Charlie Winters on string bass and Nat's former employer Bob Dryden on drums.
They recorded extensively for the Parlophone
Label throughout the 1930's scoring hits with "Nagasaki", "I Can't Dance I've Got Ants In My Pants", "How'm I Doing?" "The Shiek of Araby", "Oh Monah!", "Ol' Man Mose" and Nat's signature tune "Georgia On My Mind
". In these recording Nat brought jazz, and particularly the jazz stylings of his hero Louis Armstrong, to National prominence through radio broadcasts and tours of the variety circuit. The Georgians were finally disbanded when Nat was called into Service during World War II.
In the 1940's Nat formed his New Georgians who featured an extended big-band but this group lacked the swing of the smaller 1930's band.
The Georgians is also the name of an unrelated 1920's British group who played at the Savoy Hotel in London and featured the American trumpeter Frank Guarante.
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
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The Georgians were the solo band Nat Gonella
Nat Gonella
Nathaniel Charles Gonella was an English jazz trumpeter, bandleader, vocalist and mellophonist born in London, perhaps most notable for his work with the big band he founded, The Georgians....
founded on his departure from Lew Stone
Lew Stone
Lew Stone was a British dance band leader and arranger. He was well known in Britain during the 1930s.Stone learned music at an early age and became an accomplished pianist. In the 1920s, he worked with many important dance bands...
and his Orchestra in 1934. He had already experimented as a solo artist in small groups and with the American pianist Garland Wilson
Garland Wilson
Garland Lorenzo Wilson was an American jazz pianist born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, perhaps best-known for his work with Nina Mae McKinney. Wilson was a boogie-woogie and stride pianist.- Career :...
but this was the first band to carry Nat's name.
The band featured his brother Bruts on second trumpet, the South African Pat Smuts on Tenor Saxophone, Albert Torrance on Alto Sax, Harold "Baby" Hood on Piano, Charlie Winters on string bass and Nat's former employer Bob Dryden on drums.
They recorded extensively for the Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
Label throughout the 1930's scoring hits with "Nagasaki", "I Can't Dance I've Got Ants In My Pants", "How'm I Doing?" "The Shiek of Araby", "Oh Monah!", "Ol' Man Mose" and Nat's signature tune "Georgia On My Mind
Georgia on My Mind
"Georgia on My Mind" is a song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell . It is the official state song of the U.S. state of Georgia. Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or...
". In these recording Nat brought jazz, and particularly the jazz stylings of his hero Louis Armstrong, to National prominence through radio broadcasts and tours of the variety circuit. The Georgians were finally disbanded when Nat was called into Service during World War II.
In the 1940's Nat formed his New Georgians who featured an extended big-band but this group lacked the swing of the smaller 1930's band.
The Georgians is also the name of an unrelated 1920's British group who played at the Savoy Hotel in London and featured the American trumpeter Frank Guarante.