Home For The Holidays
a WW2 Broadcast Concert
by The Brooks Tegler AAF Big Band
Your success is our business
Our Stellar Lineup
The voices of Bing Crosby, The Andrew Sisters, Doris Day, Nat King Cole, Helen Forrest, and Johnny Desmond brought listeners and dancers into their music with style and grace. Never was this more important than during the years between 1939 and 1945 when World War II raged across the globe.
Many of the now familiar holiday songs that we hear every year came from this era. Songs like I’ll Be Home For Christmas, White Christmas, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and Mel Torme’s The Christmas Song have become some of the ‘standards’ of the December holidays.
The Brooks Tegler AAF Big Band brings these classic songs to life again. Whether it is one of Glenn Miller’s holiday medleys or Duke Ellington’s version of Jingle Bells, it all swings, and it all resonates with every audience. With Brooks Tegler's AAF Band, these wonderful songs are played with the same precision, delicacy, and energy as they were 70 years ago. During those times they were helping GI’s all over the world to stay a bit closer to home, if only in their imaginations.
With a show format based on the annual AFRS Transcription “Nationwide” shows that relayed live big band selections from nightclubs and theaters all around the nation, Brooks, the band and the singers take you back in time with this city to city recreation. The program is always filled with familiar songs and arrangements, as well as a few surprises, and excellent holiday music is the “order of the day.
~From fans after a recent concert in Anapolis, MD~
"Thoroughly enjoyed the evening's 'radio show' performance.
The variety of music kept our ears entertained. The musicians
were top notch, and the commercials sweetly reminiscent of another time.
We giggled wholeheartedly at the humorous interludes, and found the theme
of the big band song titles mixed with the more traditional holiday songs
to be a delightful way to tie it all together.
We would see it again and enjoy it as much, if not more!"
"The wit was off the charts, the charts were off the scale,
and the scale was magnificant !"
From the early 1930’s through the 1960’s, big bands were a powerful presence in the world of jazz and popular music. Names like Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, Les Brown, Gene Krupa, and so many more, were the music stars of the day.
Big Band Holiday Set List
1st Half:
Jack the Bear
Bounce of Sugar Plum Fairy
Temptation
Well Get It!
Wrappin’ It Up
Airmail Special
Classical Guitar
Brass Quintet/Small Group
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Let It Snow
When You Wish…
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Santa’s On His Way
San Antonio Rose
2nd Half:
Brass Quintet/Small Group
Snowfall
Woodchoppers Ball
Mel Torme’s Christmas Song
Legal
On My Way
Deck the Halls
Silver Bells/Winter Wonderland
Christmas on the Range
JED Segment
Christmas Carol/Christmas Medley
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Texas Blues
“Final” Visit
Go Tell it on the Mountain
Jingle Bells
Flying Home
