Kay Kyser, one of the more remembered bandleaders of the 40s. Him with his Collegiate (or for this case "Kollegiate") attitude and musical style with comedy that enveloped his career and his band, and his style of having his singers do one line near the start of a song following the instrumentals, and his "hit or miss" musical choices are some of the first things thought of when it comes to him. When I say "hit or miss", I mean seriously! It's like every other record he did was either very comedic and didn't really age well, or was a great musical success and maybe even charted. It seems that he listened to every song plugger that came to him! He only had one orchestras of his own. His Main Orchestra.
Kay Kyser's main orchestra formed around mid 1927 after he graduated from high school. And as like most jazz bands back then, they had a bit of hotness to them. In late 1928, they briefly signed to Victor, making a few sweet and semi-hot records between then and 1929. Only lasting a few sessions. It wouldn't be until 1935 when he and his same orchestra would record again. This time on Brunswick, signing a much longer contract. He would stay there on the label, even after the ARC collapsed in 1938, and Brunswick was tossed around after being saved by CBS. During this time, he'd also record briefly on Vocalion, and CBS would end up putting them on Columbia in 1939. From there on, his popularity would sore as his career really took off. He wouldn't leave Columbia for the next 11 years. Even through every issue that was the 1940s record Industry, Petrillo Bans and all. Only Deviating during them to record a few records for V-Disc for our boys overseas at the time. In 1950, he'd record his last records with the band, before retiring all together. Only recording a few more times years and decades later, but never with this original orchestra.
He would have a large abundance of hits over the years. Those included On A Slow Boat To China in 1948, Cry Baby Cry in 1938, Ferryboat Serenade in 1940, "Til Reveille in 1941, The Old Lamplighter in 1946, Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition in 1942, Ole Buttermilk Sky in 1946, Jingle Jangle Jingle in 1942, Horses Don't Bet On People in 1945, Star Gazing in 1945, Let's Get Lost in 1943, He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings in 1942, I Promise You in 1939, Pushing Sand in 1943, and many others.
