I would have worked Sammy Kaye in there somewhere as he had a very distinctive and recognizable sound.

My favorite Big Band song:

"Sing, Sing, Sing," by Benny Goodman (Gene Krupa on drums). I could listen to it a thousand times.

Ralph Marterie

Basie! what about Basie?

Billy Eckstine (all the bop legends started there)

Gee, I dunno....

I'm hooked on polka music...

Who's gonna start the "Best Disco bands" thread? How about "Hottest Jazz Artists"? "Best Solo Harpsichordist"?

More irrelevant cyber-pollution.

All I can tell you is that when I wented to the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1977, they had a course called "Arranging in the Duke Ellingon Style." You could take it afer you had the required prerequisites, which were virtually every other arranging and orchestration course the school offered.

For those who don't know, Berlee is the pre-eminant school in the world for non=Classical music -- especiallyin jazz an contemporary music.

Ellington was a major American genius of immense depth and creativity. And he always had the best players, like Johnny Hodges and Cat Anderson. Tommy Dorsey was pretty schlocky. Goodman was great, for a white boy. But before him I'd put Basie and Fletcher Henderson. Also, Gil Evans would have to be in there, but that may just be my personal idiosyncracy.

Paul Whiteman, Fletcher Henderson, Ted Weems, George Olsen, Fred Waring, Red Norvo, Gene Kardos, Cab Calloway, Don Redman, Joe Haymes

Basie? The Count's numero nineo on the list.

So what are the 10 top Polka bands of all time? OK, we were going to include Lawrence Welk.

The Best Dicso Bands!!!!!!! Dicso wasn't even music, Ha, think about it do you really think that was music....

This might interest your Dad. The Big Bands and Their Ballrooms

Let's not forget Stan Kenton!

But I'd have to say the GRP big band (most of you are now saying "Who? Never heard of them!") is a real kick-a$$ band. Pretty much the best of the best.

Would probably never survive as a road band -- too many egos to handle along with a limited payroll.

Stylistically, I don't think you can rate these big bands. You must consider that lots of players were in multiple bands simultaneously or hopped around. Lots of players started out like say, in the Air Force Band like my dad. He played saxophone/clarinet and arranged for some of the names on your list. He knew Nat King Cole and some other singers too like Connie Haines.

Further, lots of these bands have members still living and they are still playing. Many live here in Florida, believe me on this one.

IMHO, any band who fronted with Ella Fitzgerald is at the top of my list.

My favorite big band of the moment is Sonny LaRosa's World's Youngest Big Band out of Tampa Bay. If you ever get a chance to see these kids, you better go. They all play well and they all get a turn singing before fairly large audiences. What an enjoyable time I had seeing them. Ages thirteen and under. Enjoy your Sunday.

I can't fault your Dad's list, except for the omission of Artie Shaw and Charlie Barnet. My six-CD changer in my SUV has Artie Shaw, Glen Miller, Charlie Barnet, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, and Les Brown. All from the Time-Life digitally remastered collection.

Drives my wife nuts after a few hundred miles, but "Begin the Beguine" beats her Kenny G crap anytime!

i remember when a post like this wouldn't last 3 minutes.

paging jim or john

"Let's not forget Stan Kenton!"

Remembering Stan Kenton

Duke Ellington is right up the along with the Kid from Red Bank.. Am I wrong or did the Duke not read music?