When I first began to get interested in big band music in the 1950's, the era was actually starting to wind down, with droves of music fans moving to rock and roll and other modern sounds. But I've always been a little bit of a contrarian, and although I wasn't immune to the attractions of modern music I still found myself fascinated by the rich history of the big bands. At first, I was drawn to the big names - Goodman, Ellington, the Dorseys, Miller, and others - but I gradually began to realize that there were some lesser-known bandleaders whose bands had generated some pretty darn good music.

I also discovered that knowledgeable music fans defined the music two different ways. Bands who had a generally conservative sound and played audience-pleasing pop tunes were considered 'sweet' — even if some of their musicians were very capable of dazzling listeners with their solos. Orchestras with a riskier, purer jazz style were called 'hot' or 'swing' bands (although the latter term was later used to describe all music from the era).

Sometimes hot orchestras paid a price in terms of popularity, because - as has always been the case in music - those who cater to a broader audience generally have more commercial success. But there were many fine ensembles on both sides of the aisle, and a few even straddled the line — with varying degrees of success. One group that might have suffered from a lack of focus was the band headed up by Johnny Long, who called himself 'The Man Who's Long On Music'.

Johnny was a North Carolina farm boy who was so determined to be a musician that he didn't let a childhood accident to his hand keep him from playing his beloved violin. The teacher re-strung it for him and Johnny learned to play all over again — left-handed.

As he grew to adulthood and went to college, his interest in music continued to intensify and he was soon leading his own groups. When he graduated, it was the 1930's and the big band era was in its full stride. Young Johnny kept his college band together and they began hitting the circuit. Their songbook included a little bit of everything - both sweet and hot - and at first it helped build the band's popularity.