Top 5 Swing Music Songs To Play At Your Wedding Reception

 Swing music is the perfect way to make people hit the dance floor and groove to the swing beats and rhythms. Moreover, when it is the occasion of your wedding reception, you cannot help but swing to these lovely numbers with your better half and crystallize the moments. So, take a look at these top 5 numbers besides keeping handy a collection of big band and swing music, so that you can play them at your wedding reception and spend the moments in merry, love and laughter.

Here are those top 5 favorite swing tracks that will leave you in a trance with their beautiful musical arrangements and meaningful lyrics.

 The top 5 swing songs 

1. Cowboy Casanova

Sung by Carrie Underwood in 2009, ‘Cowboy Casanova’ received a huge and positive response and lots of critical acclaim after its release. This is a country swing song that captures your mind and leaves you in a happy state. Its meaningful lyrics are surely something to look forward to on your D-day.

 He’s a good time cowboy Casanova

Leaning up against the record machine

He looks like a cool drink of water

But he’s candy-coated misery

 

2. Good Time 

Alan Jackson’s ‘Good Time’, released in 2008, is a country swing song as well. The lovely music and thoughtful lyrics make it a perfect track to be played on a romantic date or your D-day.

 I’ve been workin’ all week

And I’m tired and I don’t wanna sleep

I wanna have fun

Time for a good time 

3. Honky Tonk Badonkadonk

 Trace Adkins released this song in 2005 and it became an instant hit. Beating the other songs on the charts, this country song bagged a place in the hearts of all. Why do you need to play this song at your wedding reception? Why, because of the music and the lyrics!

 At that honky tonk badonkadonk

Keepin’ perfect rhythm

Make ya wanna swing along

Got it goin’ on

Like Donkey Kong

 

4. Baby Likes to Rock It

 The Tractors released this song in 1994 and this country swing song turned out to be a chartbuster. With the lyrics that will readily stay glued to your mind, this song will just be the icing on the cake on your wedding reception day.

 She got the boogie woogie woogie spread all over the place

She’s got it stacked to the ceilin’–got it stickin’ in your face

Ya know my baby likes to rock it like a boogie woogie choo choo train 

5. Sugar

 Adam Levine of Maroon 5 almost had our hearts stolen with this lovely Pop Rock number with a wide touch of swing music in the year 2014. Levine’s drool-worthy vocals simply took this song another notch higher and when you let this song play at your wedding reception, you will only feel like holding your partner closer and swing all the way into the end of eternity.

 I’m right here, ’cause I need

Little love, a little sympathy

Yeah, you show me good loving

Make it alright

Need a little sweetness in my life

Your sugar

  

Winding up:

 Listening to these songs will leave you mesmerized and you will pine for some more swing tracks. The endless list of ballroom swing music can be listened to on America’s favorite swing music radio channel, Swing Street Radio, the official ballroommusic radio station USA. Stay tuned to it to soothe your ears, calm your nerves and enjoy every tune of yesteryear’s swing music and lyrics. 

5 Greatest Swing Jazz Pianists You Should Listen to Today!

 What is swing music without its unpredictable and exciting rhythmic beats? Being one of the most used instruments in big band arrangements, the role of the piano in enlivening swing music is incredible, to say the least. No matter which big band you talk about, the pianists added a great punch to the entire rhythmic section of the band and took the overall performance to the next level. You can never be a loyal fan of swing music unless you have learned about the musicians who played a pivotal role in giving this genre the exposure and popularity it rightfully commanded. In this blog, we talk about the swing pianists that enriched the old-time radiorecording in the USA and swept Americans off their feet in the early twentieth century. 

Fats Waller – Having studied piano from the virtuoso jazz pianist James P. Johnson, Fat Waller mastered this instrument from a very early age. Apart from his greatest hits like “Honeysuckle Rose”, “Squeeze Me”, and “Ain’t Misbehavin”, Waller earned astounding recognition for his work on piano solos under his contract with Victor Records. He was not only a gifted pianist, but Fats Waller gained prominence for his songwriting abilities as well. Even though he was phenomenally popular for being a comedic entertainer, none could look away from his musical expertise.

 

Count Basie – Although he preferred playing drums during his childhood, Count Basie turned his attention towards piano at the age of 15. As an ardent swing jazz fan, you must already know that Basie was one of the notable big band leaders in the twentieth century. Not only was he a fantastic music arranger, but Basie had earned an unparalleled feat for having led the group on piano for nearly 50 years.

 

James P. Johnson – Not many of you might have heard about him, but Johnson was one of the early pioneers in stride piano playing style. He was so great at his art that he heavily influenced musicians like Art Tatum, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. It was Johnson who transformed the course of modern jazz piano in the early twentieth century. In fact, “Carolina Shout”, one of his very famous piano compositions, is known to be the first recorded piano solo in the history of jazz.

 

Nat King Cole – Do you swoon every time the hit tracks of Nat King Cole are played on the swingmusic radio? After all, who would not fall the smooth silky voice of this legend? Apart from his amazing vocals, Cole was also famous for his stupendous piano playing skills. Moreover, the credit must be given to Nat King Cole for having inspired the best jazz piano trio format in the swing era. Even to this day, the music critics would agree that the rhythmic and harmonic advancements in his piano style helped him stand out from the contemporaries of that period.

 

Duke Ellington – The list would be far from complete if we did not talk about the king of jazz. None can deny that Duke Ellington was one of the popular jazz composers the swing era had witnessed. Along with that, jazz musicians and fans also regarded him as the finest pianist of his time. Having mastered the Harem style of piano stride playing, Ellington introduced his originality and inventiveness as a pianist, and laid the foundation of his avant-garde musical works.

 

Final Words – So, here is the list of the top 5 renowned pianists of the swing era. Have you not listened to their compositions yet? Well, it’s never too late to discover some fantastic music, you see. Tune into the big band music station in the USA and enjoy the greatest hits by the jazz legends of the twentieth century. Hope you have a great time with non-stop swing music entertainment.

The Lesser Known Story of The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Do you reminisce about your old days while listening to the classic swing music? Or are you a millennial currently interested in exploring big band music? Swing music from the big band era redefined the cultural contours of America in the 1930s and 1940s. Given your interest in jazz and swing, you sure have come across the recordings of the various top bands. Back in the day, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and many others led successful big bands that created phenomenal big band music in the USA. But have you listened to the creations by the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra? The band gave stiff competition to the swing giants and stood out for well-designed ensemble music. Notwithstanding the common swing essence, the orchestra was different from contemporary bands in several ways. Essentially, Jimmie Lunceford imbibed quirky novelties in his band that were quite new and not touched upon by many during the big band era. Read along to learn more about the Orchestra.

Band formation and series of achievements

In 1927, Jimmie Lunceford joined Manassas High School, Memphis, as a music teacher. During his tenure there, Lunceford tried organizing a jazz band, named Chickasaw Syncopators that consisted of his students. Their combined endeavor led the band to bag a recording agreement with RCA in the year 1930. Although they were regular performers in Buffalo and Cleveland, Lunceford and his team gained prominence after playing at the famous Cotton Club in New York. This break was no less than hitting the jackpot for them. After the successful performance, the band recorded plenty of music scores with Decca company. From “Four or Five Times”, “My Blue Heaven”, “Rhythm Is Our Business” to “For Dancers Only” and “Swanee River”, the band gave incessant hits that are still popular on the big band music station in the USA. What made the orchestra stand out was its fearless experimentation with the style and presentation of the music. Lunceford was an impressive band leader because he would create unique sounds thereby setting himself as an example before his band members.

New and interesting elements in the band

At a time, when bands were incorporating the four-beat rhythm in their music, Jimmie’s embracing of a two-beat rhythm, was a gamechanger in the big band music in theUSA. For this, the credit goes to Sy Oliver on the trumpet. Moreover, the absence of any noted soloist did not stop the band from achieving what it deserved. Instead, the members focussed on improving the ensemble work. With Lunceford on the alto saxophone, the band also comprised Jimmy Crawford on drums, Moses Allen on the bass, and Eddie Wilcox, the pianist. Further, the band was one of its kind for featuring high-note trumpeters, an unprecedented feat in the history of big band music till then. Observers believe that watching the band perform was an extraordinary experience. Flashy performance, showmanship, and unusual choreography using the musical instruments as props were the hallmarks of The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra.

The last phase and the sudden collapse of Lunceford

As Sy Oliver teamed up with Tommy Dorsey, the orchestra lost a jewel. Although several other trumpeters joined the band, they lacked the spark of Oliver. On the other hand, internal problems like non-payment of salaries and Lunceford’s lavish lifestyle began crippling the band. However, in 1947, with Lunceford’s sudden demise, the orchestra broke up and never got back again.

Conclusion – Given their atypical musical sense, The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra competed with its contemporary bands to create its own identity. The band would put up extraordinary stage performances that had earned it an indisputable prestige in the entertainment circuit of America. For interesting sounds and rhythm, their songs are still cherished and played at the ballroom music radio station in the USA. Despite its steady declination, the orchestra, led by Jimmie Lunceford, inspired the next generations of musicians.