Hep Records, jazz in depth from the 1930's to the present day.


ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES


Sam Donahue (Tenor sax, trumpet, valve trombone, arranger) 1918-1974 Donahue was born in Detroit on March 8, 1918. He first formed a band in 1938 but left it in the care of Sonny Burke while he went on the road with Gene Krupa. In 1940 he returned to assume the leadership and gradually through recordings and the booking skills of the Schribman brothers in the England area built the band into quite a draw. The overall style was created by the arranging of Donahue himself who was heavily influenced by the Lunceford sound and also Count Basie. As the effects of America's entry into the war took effect he disbanded in October1942 and joined the Navy where he became part of Artie Shaw's Navy Band. The all star unit saw action in the Pacific before returning to the US in October 1943. Shaw received a medical discharge and leadership fell to Donahue. A few months later the reorganised band with a Donahue inspired library departed for Britain as part of the preparation for D-Day and was grandly named the U.S. Navy Band of the Liberation Forces. While in Britain it toured bases and also broadcast over the BBC and was generally regarded as a superior jazz unit to the better known Glenn Miller AEF Orchestra. The orchestra returned to the US in March 1945 and made a series of V Discs which demonstrated its excellence. These are to be heard on Heps 2, 5, and 25 along with some small group jazz of the period. Late in 1945 he received his discharge and set about getting his civilian band together again. Times had changed and although he enjoyed some success and made some excellent studio recordings he never quite recaptured the spirit of the Navy Band. In the fifties he variously worked for Billy May and Tommy Dorsey as well as many studio recording jobs. In 1960 he even became part of the Stan Kenton Band. His final years were spent in Nevada leading bands in the resort town of Sparks. He died March 22,1974. Available now on Hep: CD 2 Volume 1: Convoy 1945 CD 5 Volume 2: LST Party 1945 CD 25 Hollywood Hop 1940-48 Discography: 1954 For Young Moderns In Love (Capitol) 1955 Classics In Jazz (Capitol) 1957 Double Date one side of album 1958 Dance Date With Sam Donahue 1963 The New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Under The Direction Of Sam Donahue Compilations: Sam Donahue directing The Band of the US Navy Liberation Forces - Volume 1: Convoy (Hep Records) Historic V-disc and live performances with rare alternates from 1945 Sam Donahue directing The Band of the US Navy Liberation Forces - Volume 2: LST Party (Hep Records) Historic V-disc and live performances with rare alternates from 1945 Hollywood Hop (Hep Records) studio and transcription recordings from 1940-1948 Top
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Three labels covering jazz in depth from 1930 to the present.

Hep Jazz, P.O. Box 50, Pitlochry, UK. PH16 5YL