1932: Johnny Hamp’s Orchestra - (I’ve Got the Words - I’ve Got the Tune) Hummin’ To Myself

Johnny Hamp & His Orchestra – (I’ve Got the Words - I’ve Got the Tune) Hummin’ To Myself, Fox-Trot (Magidson- Siegel- Fain) with Vocal refrain by Carl Graub, Victor 1932 (USA) NOTE:. Johnny HAMP was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He became the leader by chance when the band was performing at the Hershey Ballroom in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The band leader at the time had an argument with the players and walked out. Hamp, with no experience as a conductor, volunteered to lead them for the rest of the evening. After the performance, the band asked him to stay on as leader. His band billed as Johnny Hamp’s Kentucky Serenaders was active from the late 1910s through the 1920s. The “Kentucky“ in the name appears to be related to the band’s use of “My Old Kentucky Home“ as a theme song. Hamp’s orchestra made most of its recordings in New York on the Victor label. Their biggest hit was “Black Bottom“ recorded in 1926, which led to a post-charleston international dance craze. The group toured in the United States and toured England in 1930. In 1931, the group was renamed Johnny Hamp and His Orchestra. Hamp continued to record for Victor until 1932. The next sessions started in 1935 at various labels (ARC, Melotone, Perfect, Romeo, Oriole). In Dec, 1936, Hamp was back with Victor recording and in Feb 1937 had two sessions for Bluebird label, which turned out to be their last session. The slideshow shows some music lovers of the 1930s humming to themselves by their radios and turntables.