This is one of the few recordings bandleaders Carol Lofner and Phil Harris (né Wonga Philip Harris) made together. Indeed, pianist Carol Lofner formed an orchestra with drummer Phil Harris in the late 1920s. The Lofner-Harris Orchestra enjoyed a long stay at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Lofner directed the orchestra while Harris played drums and sang, sitting up front center stage instead of behind the orchestra. Muzzy Marcellino was the violinist. In 1932 the band left the St. Francis Hotel and began to tour. Shortly into the tour Lofner and Harris dissolved their partnership and Harris, who had always been the main attraction of the band, took over sole leadership. From then on, Harris had a successful solo career. However, though successful as an orchestra leader, Harris is mainly remembered today for his recordings as a vocalist, his voice work in animation (probably most famous later in his career for his roles as bears, one being Baloo in Disney's The Jungle Book, and as Little John in Disney's Robin Hood). He also voiced Thomas O'Malley in Disney's The Aristocats. Harris was also a pioneer in radio situation comedy, first with Jack Benny, and then in a series in which he co-starred with his wife, singer-actress Alice Faye in eight years In 1933, he made a short film for RKO called So This Is Harris!, which won an Academy Award for best live action short subject. He followed with a feature-length film, Melody Cruise. Both films were created by the same team that next produced Flying Down to Rio, which started the successful careers of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Additionally, he appeared in Thunder Across the Pacific (1951), alongside Forrest Tucker and Walter Brennan, and The High and the Mighty with John Wayne in 1954. After his radio years, Harris revived his music career. In 1956, he appeared in the film Good-bye, My Lady. He made numerous guest appearances on 1960s and 1970s TV shows. Song hits by Harris included the early 1950s novelty song, "The Thing". Harris also spent time in the 1970s and early 1980s leading a band that appeared often in Las Vegas, often on the same bill with swing era legend Harry James. Harris was also a close friend and associate of Bing Crosby and appeared in an episode of ABC's short-lived The Bing Crosby Show sitcom. After Crosby died in 1977, Harris sat in for his old friend doing color commentary for the telecast of the annual Bing Crosby Pro-Am Golf Tournament. In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Harris. As for this lovely record, it was made in 1932, with a vocal by Al Schaer.
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Music