"A ZOOT SUIT (For My Sunday Gal)" ~ Kay Kyser & his Orchestra w/ Sully Mason & vocal group (1942) Columbia #36517 -
The flip side of, "WHEN THE ROSES BLOOM AGAIN" -
The vocal group consisted of Trudy Erwin, Dorothy Crawford, Jack Martin, & Max Williams. Composed by L. Wolfe Gilbert & Bob O'Brien.
The history of what is known as a "Zoot Suit" finds some it's origins in France, then leads it's way into the "French Quarter" (due to it's once large French population) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Also, there is a link between the suits worn by The Southern Gentlemen of the deep South, such as South Carolina, Mississppi, etc. etc., during the 1800's and the Zoot Suit, similar, minus some of the bag. Sometime around 1939 - 1940, or just prior to WWII breaking out, the "Zoot Suit" became a minor trend, but as a whole, it never really caught on with most Americans and as rationing increased and with the Zoot Suits need of so much extra fabric , the Zoot Suit was slowly phased out . Today, many associate the style of suit with the so called, "Zoot Suit Riots", of the early 40's, however, as most pictures show, very few involved, were actually wearing a "Zoot Suit" and were just wearing the typical clothing of the time period.
As was common practice in the 1920's - 1930's - 1940's - 1950's, A ZOOT SUIT (For My Sunday Gal) had multiple versions recorded of it by a variety of top recording stars of the day, including : The Andrews Sisters, Bob Crosby's Orchestra, Art Kassell's Orchestra, Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, Benny Goodman's Orchestra, Ray Herbeck's Orchestra, & Harry Roy's Orchestra.
In the 1970's & 1980's, some "music critics" concocted the term "covering", which they "claim" was a form of stealing. These same race baiters, who obviously had no knowledge of the history of the music business, selectively ignored the fact that, multiple versions of the top songs or potential hits of the day was in fact, a very common practice and had been from the very beginning. It was a practice or trend which continued on into the 1950's. There was NO "stealing" or nothing racially motivated about the practice, since both races were known to record whatever songs were popular at the time, it was simple competition between record companies and the performers who recorded for them.
As for, A ZOOT SUIT (For My Sunday Gal) , both composers, L. Wolfe Gilbert & Bob O'Brien, were white-Caucasian, the same as most of those who recorded the song in 1942 . - * I say this BEFORE someone stupidly claims that "they" stole the song from someone else, who was non-white.
