This is a nice collection of recordings that my Grandfather (Fritz) Holtz played on. He moved to Chicago at age 16 to pursue a musical career. He played pretty much every brass instrument and woodwind, but he was predominantly a clarinet player and chart arranger. He first played in a band called The Jac-Mac Musical Masters. That band never made it into the studio to record. Next he was a member of Dan Russo and the Oriole Orchestra. This band toured extensively from Chicago to Texas and all points in between. Grandpa Holtz told me many stories about his touring days, including meeting Al Capone and playing at many “speakeasy” clubs in Wisconsin and Illinois owned by the Chicago Mob. The Russo Band recorded several sessions in the Brunswick Studios at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois. Most of these recordings released under band names other than the Orioles likely involved members of Dan Russo’s Oriole Orchestra along with other bands and session players. Back in those days, (these days as well, I guess) when in the studio, many band leaders used session men (pretty much anyone who was around the studio at the time of the session) as well as some of their touring band members, and my Grandfather was among those session men on quite a few recordings. This is consistent with what Grandpa Holtz told me about the recorded sessions that he played on. Grandpa mentioned Slatts Randall and Isham Jones as other bands he recorded with, none of which are included in this collection. I will probably never the real scope of my Grandfathers recording career, as most of the time the session players were not credited. Funny, my Grandfather told me that he was fully employed and well-paid all the way through the great depression. Luck seemed to follow him everywhere he went. After his playing days were over, my Grandfather became President of Martin Band Instruments, and that company made the famous Committee Trumpets played by such greats as Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis…both of whom he became great friends with. Those guys visited often when we were up at the Lake Cottage in Michigan in the 1960’s and 70’s.... I will try to provide what information I have about each recording contained on this CD. All of these songs were recorded direct to disc, and pressed on 78 rpm records. Most of these recordings were on the BRUNSWICK record label, a few are on the VOCALION label.

CD1

Track 1 (YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU) - WHY DID YOU? – Brunswick 4439 recorded July 5, 1929 – released as DAN RUSSO & THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA.

Track 2 AN OLD ITALIAN LOVE SONG – Brunswick 4439 – recorded July 5, 1929 – released as DAN RUSSO & THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA.

Track 3 LITTLE PAL – Vocalion 15813 – recorded July 1929 - released as JAY RICHARDS AND HIS ORCHESTRA.

Track 4 I’M IN SEVENTH HEAVEN – Vocalion 15813 – released as JAY RICHARDS AND HIS ORCHESTRA.

Track 5 CHINA BOY – Brunswick 4478 – Recorded July 19, 1929 – Released as HENRY LANGE & THE HOTEL BAKER ORCHESTRA.

Track 6 SOMEBODY LOVES ME – Brunswick 4478 – recorded July 19, 1929 – Released as HENRY LANGE & THE HOTEL BAKER ORCHESTRA.

Track 7 WHY CAN’T YOU – Vocalion 15812 – recorded July 20, 1929 – Released as JAY RICHARDS AND HIS ORCHESTRA.

Track 8 USED TO YOU – Vocalion 15812 – recorded July 20, 1929 – Released as JAY RICHARDS AND HIS ORCHESTRA.

Track 9 I’M THE MEDICINE MAN FOR THE BLUES – Brunswick 4490 – recorded July 31, 1929 – Released as DAN RUSSO AND THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA.

Track 10 BECAUSE YOU SAID “I LOVE YOU” – Brunswick 4502 – Recorded July 31, 1929 - Released as DAN RUSSO AND THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA.

Track 11 WOULDN’T IT BE WONDERFUL? – Brunswick 4490 – Recorded August 9, 1929 - Released as DAN RUSSO AND THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA.

Track 12 SWEETNESS – Vocalion 15835 – Recorded Aug. 29, 1929 – Released as JAY RICHARDS AND HIS ORCHESTRA.

Track 13 I DON’T WANT YOUR KISSES – Vocalion 15835B - Recorded Aug 29, 1929 – Released as JAY RICHARDS AND HIS ORCHESTRA.

Track 14 THE ILLINOIS LOYALTY SONG – Brunswick 4563 – Recorded Sep. 1929 – Released as DAN RUSSO AND THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA.

Track 15 WAVE THE FLAG OF OLD CHICAGO – Brunswick 4563 – Recorded Sep. 29, 1929 - Released as DAN RUSSO AND THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA.

Track 16 SWEETHEART – Brunswick 4708 – Recorded January 1930 – Released as DAN RUSSO AND THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA

Track 17 THE TALK OF THE TOWN – Brunswick 4709 – Recorded January 1930 – Released as BENNY MEROFF

Track 18 T’AIN’T NO SIN TO TAKE OFF YOUR SKIN (AND DANCE AROUND IN YOUR BONES) – Brunswick 4708 (78A) - recorded January 1930 - Released as DAN RUSSO AND THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA - Vocal and Clarinet by Fritz Holtz


Track 19 (Cleaned up version) - T’AIN’T NO SIN TO TAKE OFF YOUR SKIN (AND DANCE AROUND IN YOUR BONES) – Brunswick 4708 (78A) - recorded January 1930 - Released as DAN RUSSO AND THE ORIOLE ORCHESTRA - Vocal and Clarinet by Fritz Holtz