Two of the founding members of the legendary Wiseguys Big Band Machine stopped by for not only a great interview but laughs, songs, and beer! Whether you are into swing, mambo, jazz, rockabilly, or doo wop you will enjoy these Wiseguys!
Date filmed: 4/29/17
Guests: Art & Frank Barajas
Location: Whittier, CA
Duration: 1 hour 57 minutes
Two of the founding members of the legendary Wiseguys Big Band Machine stopped by for not only a great interview but laughs, songs, and beer! Whether you are into swing, mambo, jazz, rockabilly, or doo wop you will enjoy these Wiseguys!
Date filmed: 4/29/17
Guests: Art & Frank Barajas
Location: Whittier, CA
Duration: 1 hour 56 minutes
On 307 South Broadway Street in Downtown Los Angeles, California is one of America’s first movie palaces, the historic Million Dollar Theater. It was built in 1918 by the legendary Sid Grauman and seated 2,345. The theater was created in the churrigueresque, Spanish Baroque, style with images of animals and allegorical figures of the arts sculpted into the building. The decorations are phenomenal and give the theater a magical and royal ambiance. Legendary voices have filled the theater, in the 1940’s Billie Holliday and Lionel Hampton, later Spanish language singers and movies entertained new audiences.
A few years ago I attended a show at the legendary Million Dollar Theater and the experience truly captivated the nostalgic and timeless wonders of class and luxury in a historic building. I heard a band and voice that would quickly become one of my all-time favorites, an 18-piece band consisting of horns, percussion and a golden voice. The great crooners heavily influenced the voice and the similarities to Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darrin are appropriate and not a stretch. Much like Sinatra and Darrin, the tone and power cause the listener to relax and creates melodic tones to the reality of love lost and found. The young man with the golden voice is named Frank, lead singer of the Wiseguys Big Band Machine.
The journey started in a place that is familiar to stars and entertainers because he was born in Hollywood, CA. Growing up in East L.A./Montebello he played the tuba in high school and a few years later started a band with his brother Art and lead trumpet player Robert Villalobos. They created a New Orleans style pep band that would eventually evolve into the Wiseguys Big Band Machine. The venture into singing began when 21 year old Frank performed at a local bar called Mr. C’s, “the owner liked that I sang the old Sinatra/Darrin songs, so he would have me sing a few songs for him and I would get free pitchers of beer since I knew the tunes I felt comfortable singing them.” The experience gave him confidence to sing in the band when the opportunity arose. Coupled with the amazing guitar playing of Rudy G, from Rudy G Y Los Hi-Tones/Barber at Sweeney Todd Barber, the Wiseguys are a sonic powerhouse.
Not only are the Wiseguys band mates but a deeper bond exists with two of the founders, Frank and Art, because they are brothers. The “relationship is solid we are brothers 100%, music just is an extra bond we share nothing better than having your brother with you on stage. When we are old we will have those memories, who better to share them with than you brother.” Watching the brothers interact on stage is an added bonus to a great show.
The name, “Big Band Machine” is fitting because they are versatile and explosive in their sounds. According to Frank, “we are not just a Swing Band, Rockabilly Band, Salsa/Cumbia/Mambo Band.” With Frank belting out the tunes and entertaining the audience it is just a matter of time before they are playing at the major hotels in Las Vegas because the entire band gets involved in the entertainment. It is not rare to see Frank engage the audience to sing or the band members stand up as they play their brasses off! Watching his older brother Art pound away on the drums is a visual gem. One interesting aspect of the show is Rudy and Frank interacting on stage as if they were both in unison and at times it is comedic. The Wiseguys put on a world-class performance of timeless classics that are given new life by the musicians of the Big Band Machine.
I have no doubt the future is bright and their name will be in lights. Many great voices filled the Million Dollar Theater in its heyday and Frank not only pays tribute to the music that inspired him but also renews the love for Sinatra/Darrin to audiences that are flocking to their shows. When I asked Frank to describe the music his answer demonstrated the key to their success, “good music played and performed with nothing but respect for the music and the audience.” With two studio CD’s, All In and Double Down, one live CD Bootleg Swing, the Wiseguys will continue to entertain audiences who love good music and entertainment.
It has been said that only through blood, sweat and tears can true success be achieved and for the father of one of the greatest swing bands Tommy Dorsey (1905-1956) some of that blood, sweat and tears came from scraping. He is known as the “Sentimental Gentleman” because of the style of play and the man who started in the Ragtime 1920’s continued to succeed through the 1950’s but many left hooks and jabs were thrown along the way.
The son of a part-time musician Tommy learned to play the trumpet from his father and eventually choose the trombone. His older brother Jimmy led a few bands in the 1920’s that Tommy played in. One of Tommy’s first solo hits was Tiger Rag in the late 1920’s and features Tommy playing the trumpet and demonstrates his sensual ferocity.
Although the brothers had been playing in different bands and achieving success they reunited in 1934 for the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra but because of Tommy’s temper and perfectionist approach the Fiery Gentleman abruptly quit the band in a public argument in 1935. Apparently, Jimmy believed the tempo was too fast and that really upset Tommy who walked off the stage and the Dorsey’s did not play together until 1953 (18 years later!).
The passionate approach to music and his orchestra led Tommy to sometimes get into disputes and problems with other musicians. The famous orchestra leader would spare no one in seeking top talent. Tommy would buy out musicians contracts from other band leaders to obtain quality musicians and knew what a great orchestra required. One dispute was with Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers on Thanksgiving Day 1942 over who gave the wrong directions to the driver and resulted in the 20 year delay of Blues in the Night (awesome song!).
The Fiery Gentleman created the most popular swing era orchestra and contained some of the great jazz artists who ever lived. The music had a dance tempo and seemed to be going all over the place but was tightly arranged. In 1930 the orchestra adapted a piano piece by PIne Top Smith called Boogie Woogie and it became one of the most successful recordings.
Another great piece was Maria that was featured in the film The Fabulous Dorsey’s (1947) and demonstrates the uptempo arrangement and lively orchestra participation.
One of the singers went on to become a legend, the great Frank “Blue Eyes” Sinatra.
The Fiery Gentleman Tommy Dorsey exemplified passion for the love of his music and orchestra. The idea of compromise and the norm became a burden that he continually shed and was paved with blood, sweat and tears. The music is still played today and should be cherished for the extraordinary effort and talent.
Gentlemen of tradition and distinction have long enjoyed the music of fiery and passionate individuals and my hope is that this will continue.
Two of the founding members of the legendary Wiseguys Big Band Machine stopped by for not only a great interview but laughs, songs, and beer! Whether you are into swing, mambo, jazz, rockabilly, or doo wop you will enjoy these Wiseguys!
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