SAVOY All Stars Band
Martin Block |
MC, Announcer, DJ
February 3, 1903 - September 18, 1967 |
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Marty is active at SAVOY and has produced a "radio only" show that airs Tuesdays on SAVOYstream.
He is developing a live DJ show for SL to start in 2019. Here's the Martin Block story: |
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I started in radio reading commercials in Tijuana. In 1934, back home in L.A., I was at KFWB when Al Jarvis created a show called Make Believe Ballroom. At the end of that year I moved to WNEW in New York City. At a time when all radio music was of live performances, I convinced my manager to let me play records. I had to go to the local record store to buy them - the station did not own any.
In 1935, radio commentator Walter Winchell described me as a "Disk Jockey" and the term became iconic for radio announcers who played music recordings.
When covering the Lindburgh kidnapping trial, I played records during the lulls. That was a bit hit. I created my own Make Believe Ballroom, taking my audience to live performances, jumping from place to place across America and from band to band playing them all. Our station ad salesmen said nobody would pay for ads for a show that played recorded music. But, Make Believe Ballroom was an immediate hit. A year later I had a waiting list of advertisers.
In 1940, my show was nationally syndicated. Glenn Miller recorded “Make Believe Ballroom Time” with lyrics I wrote. It was my third theme song, but when Glenn was killed, I decided to make it permanent. By the end of the war I was making $22,000 a week.
In 1954, I moved to NBC radio and WOR, where I did shows until I went off the air for good in 1967. WNEW continued Make Believe Ballroom with other hosts, and descendants of that show are still on the air today.
Some have said that I was to radio what Bing Crosby was to recording - the first to introduce an intimate, personal style rather than a stale, authoritative voice.
In addition to being a renown radio personality, I was the MC and Announcer at countless live band performances. I produced concerts and events and wrote the lyrics to my show's Glenn Miller theme song. I also co-wrote two hit songs for Tommy Dorsey (Faithful to You, and I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest) and one for Peggy Lee (Waitin' for the Train to Come In.)
In 1935, radio commentator Walter Winchell described me as a "Disk Jockey" and the term became iconic for radio announcers who played music recordings.
When covering the Lindburgh kidnapping trial, I played records during the lulls. That was a bit hit. I created my own Make Believe Ballroom, taking my audience to live performances, jumping from place to place across America and from band to band playing them all. Our station ad salesmen said nobody would pay for ads for a show that played recorded music. But, Make Believe Ballroom was an immediate hit. A year later I had a waiting list of advertisers.
In 1940, my show was nationally syndicated. Glenn Miller recorded “Make Believe Ballroom Time” with lyrics I wrote. It was my third theme song, but when Glenn was killed, I decided to make it permanent. By the end of the war I was making $22,000 a week.
In 1954, I moved to NBC radio and WOR, where I did shows until I went off the air for good in 1967. WNEW continued Make Believe Ballroom with other hosts, and descendants of that show are still on the air today.
Some have said that I was to radio what Bing Crosby was to recording - the first to introduce an intimate, personal style rather than a stale, authoritative voice.
In addition to being a renown radio personality, I was the MC and Announcer at countless live band performances. I produced concerts and events and wrote the lyrics to my show's Glenn Miller theme song. I also co-wrote two hit songs for Tommy Dorsey (Faithful to You, and I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest) and one for Peggy Lee (Waitin' for the Train to Come In.)
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Marty with Glenn Miller and his band |
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Marty with jazz pioneer Stan Kenton |
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Marty with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis |
I'm grateful to be working again at the Savoy Ballroom in Second Life. I'm developing a NEW Make Believe Ballroom that transcends time, showcasing the clubs, bands and music of yesterday and today. Hopefully it will start in early 2019 Thank you for listening... and you, and you and especially you.