"Congratulations on a much needed book on the Big Band era, especially from the viewpoint of the 'side man'. Having been one for about eight years before becoming a 'leader' I can really appreciate your approach. A bandleader is no better than the men behind him and I have had some great ones, including of course Drew Page." --Freddy Martin Having lived behind the scenes during the Big Band era of the thirties and forties, Page invites us to share that era with him. An instrumentalist or sideman, in many touring bands, he ...
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"Congratulations on a much needed book on the Big Band era, especially from the viewpoint of the 'side man'. Having been one for about eight years before becoming a 'leader' I can really appreciate your approach. A bandleader is no better than the men behind him and I have had some great ones, including of course Drew Page." --Freddy Martin Having lived behind the scenes during the Big Band era of the thirties and forties, Page invites us to share that era with him. An instrumentalist or sideman, in many touring bands, he recounts friendships with now-famous as well as unknown musicians who made American dance music. Like them, Drew Page loved his music and the road. He did not want to stay in one place and one job for thirty years, repeating one year or experience thirty times. He wanted to see things, to observe people and places. After a lifetime of traveling and music, "every town began to seem like home." Page's life was touched with humor, disappointment, triumph, and some tragedy. " Perhaps it's the variety of my experiences, none seeming to relate to the others, that has given my life its discontinuity." Certainly, discontinuity characterized his daily life, but continuity-his music-characterized its essence. Brought together by their art, the traveling bandmembers were apt to encounter each other any place, any time, and so they avoided goodbyes. "I'll be seeing you.' That's the way I left Harry James and the boys in the band," recalls Page. In this well-illustrated autobiography, he tells us what it was like to travel in the days before paved roads, and how the Great Depression, the death of vaudeville, and World War II affected the music business. He gives us anecdotes about the famous musicians he worked with-Harry James, Red Nichols, Freddy Martin among others-and he talks about his fellow sidemen. His narrative unrolls like a scroll inscribed with the names of those who made American dance music and jazz famous. Every music lover, nostalgia seeker, and student of American culture will want to own this book.
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Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $3.35, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1981 by Louisiana State University Press.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $3.35, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1981 by Louisiana State University Press.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $4.38, good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1981 by Louisiana State University Press.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Good condition. Acceptable dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $7.00, good condition, Sold by Harry Alter Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sylva, NC, UNITED STATES.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $10.00, very good condition, Sold by Aladdin Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fullerton, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1980 by Louisiana State Univ Pr.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good+ in Very Good+ jacket. 8vo-over 7¾-9¾" tall The two rear corners are bumped, otherwise this is an unread, as new copy in like dust jacket with NO chips and NO tears. No prior owner markings.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $15.00, very good condition, Sold by Chaparral Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Portland, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1980 by Louisiana State Univ Pr.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Good jacket. Size: 6x1x9; Minor shelf wear to binding. Light wear & soiling on edges of text block. Text and images unmarked. Dj shelf worn with scuffs, creases, light soiling, chipping & small tears in a mylar cover.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $15.00, like new condition, Sold by Abacus Bookshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pittsford, NY, UNITED STATES, published 1980 by Louisiana State University P.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $15.00, very good condition, Sold by Weller Book Works, A.B.A.A. rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Salt Lake City, UT, UNITED STATES, published 1980 by Louisiana State University.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $17.50, very good condition, Sold by Powell's Books Chicago rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Chicago, IL, UNITED STATES, published 1981 by Louisiana State University Press.
Add this copy of Drew's Blues: a Sideman's Life With the Big Bands to cart. $18.00, like new condition, Sold by Gils Book Loft rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Binghamton, NY, UNITED STATES, published 1980 by Louisiana State University.
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Seller's Description:
Fine. Dust Jacket Included. Book Indexed. Born in Texas in 1905, Page travelled around extensively andplayed with many big bands b/w photos. fine, near fine price-clipped dj, taupe cloth 226 pgs.
