"I Never Knew What The Moonlight Could Do"
Broadway Bell-Hops led by Sam Lanin
Sam Lanin was an American dance band leader who presided over many recording sessions in the 1920s. Few other musical directors were so active in studios. Lanin never played an instrument during sessions aside from drums in early years.
He was valued by studios since he provided well-orchestrated arrangements and session directions.
Sometimes his name was cited on record labels--Sam Lanin's Dance Orchestra, Lanin's Famous Players, Lanin's Red Heads, Lanin's Arcadians. Dozens of non-Lanin names were also used for studio groups he assembled.
No one Lanin record was a huge hit, but he stands out for the quantity of records made under his supervision.
Musicians who worked under him include Miff Mole, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Manny Klein, Jack Teagarden, Bix Beiderbecke, Benny Goodman, Eddie Lang, and Bunny Berigan.
In the 1920s a bandleader such as Lanin would send telegrams to musicians a day before a session, instructing each musician to be at a certain studio at a certain time. Lanin would often coordinate sessions for three different locations--three studios, three labels--on one given day.
Musicians for these "pick-up" groups showed up without knowing what new songs would be recorded at that session.
Lanin was paid by a record company for sessions, and he in turn paid the musicians. Many hired by Lanin were also used during sessions supervised by Ben Selvin, Nathan Glantz, Adrian Schubert, and Lou Gold.
Most of his sessions produced dance records featuring popular songs of the day that were given tasteful yet conservative arrangements. He was not an innovator but instead helped popularize musical trends begun by others.
Lanin ensembles produced good jazz records though none are of extraordinary interest to a jazz historian.
He was born on September 4, 1891, into a Jewish family headed by Benjamin and Mary Lanin.
Sources differ on whether he was born before or after the parents emigrated from Russia to the United States. He was raised in Philadelphia, one of ten children.
Younger brothers Jimmy, Howard, and Lester also became dance band directors. Born on July 15, 1897, Howard led dance orchestras in Philadelphia and made recordings beginning in 1923. He died in that city on April 26, 1991. As a society bandleader, Lester enjoyed success in the 1950s.
When a child, Sam studied violin and later took up clarinet. By 1912 he played clarinet in Victor Herbert's Orchestra (one source states that he was a timpanist). He joined the Navy in World War I but remained in the States, serving the military as a skilled musician. He led a dance band in Philadelphia upon his return from military duty and by the end of 1918 played in New York City's new Roseland Ballroom on Times Square at Broadway and 51st Street. Roseland, called "The Home of Refined Dancing," was opposite Madison Square Garden (it was moved decades later to 52nd Street) and was the nation's most prestigious dance hall during the years that Lanin's dance orchestra along with various other dance bands was featured.
His first record, featuring two numbers cut for the Columbia Graphophone Company on April 28, 1920, was credited to Lanin's Roseland Orchestra.
By mid-1921 he began an association with the Starr Piano Company, often leading a dance ensemble called Lanin's Famous Players on the company's Gennett label. At least for some sessions he may have provided direction for a smaller group of skilled jazz musicians identified as Bailey's Lucky Seven on some Gennett records, Ladd's Black Aces on others. (The names are misleading since there was no "Bailey" and the groups recording under this name did not always have seven musicians.) Lanin's Southern Serenaders was another name for a small group that played jazz.
Musicians in Lanin groups constantly changed though trumpeter Phil Napoleon (his real name was Filippo Napoli) was present at most sessions.
Lanin led The Ipana Troubadors. Members wore distinctive uniforms though audiences listening to radios could not see the clothing. Direct advertising was not allowed on WEAF at this time, so using a sponsor's name for an orchestra's name was indirect advertising.
Lanin's name is prominent on Ipana Troubadours discs: "S.C. Lanin--Director."
The last Ipana Troubadours broadcast was in January 1931, according to Variety on January 14, 1931. Lanin continued to use the name for several months for concerts and Columbia sessions.
He led groups for Hit of the Week discs pressed by the Durium Products Corporation. From around October 1930 to August 1931, he led musicians (usually identified as Sam Lanin's Dance Ensemble) on more Hit of the Week discs than any other band leader with the exceptions of Bert Hirsch, who led the Hit-of-the-Week Orchestra, and Philip Spitalny.
Lanin retired early.
He died on May 5, 1977, in Hollywood, Florida. His wife was named Sadye.
