Louis Armstrong and his All Stars were just one of many big bands that came to UNC - Chapel Hill in the 1950s. Actually, Armstrong came three times - in May of 1954, February of 1955, and February of 1957.

Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton at UNC (1955 Yakkety Yack)

Music styles changed dramatically in that period. By 1957, Armstrong had to answer questions about the popularity of Elvis Presley. He told a Daily Tar Heel reporter, "Me and Elvis is gettin' ready to make a record together." About rock and roll, Armstrong said, "That music's been played for generations in sanctified churches. I think it's a good thing he (Presley) kept it in mind."

Armstrong's popularity only grew during the 1950s. The February 12, 1957, edition proclaimed him the US's "trumpet-blowing ambassador." The paper said, "Louis Armstrong has spread his musical fame throughout Europe and other parts of the world. One of his greatest successes came in Britain, where his jazz fans included such notables as Princess Margaret and the Duke of Kent."

"...asked the reasons for the return in popularity of Dixieland jazz, Louis grinned, 'Daddy, it ain't never been away.'" ("Satchmo Plays At Concert And Dance On Campus Today," p. 1 banner, Feb. 16, 1957, The Daily Tar Heel)

Not all band leaders were as generous to the competition. Reporter Alice Chapman noted a strong emphasis on a brass section when Ray Anthony came to campus. She found Anthony's music "running the gamut from jazz and swing to novelties and sweet ballads just to prove his versatility...Of be-bop, Ray Anthony said 'A horrible noise.' He feels that 'Boppers' have been primary in turning the public interest away from band music." ("Ray Anthony Climbed Ladder of Success by Giant-Steps," by Alice Chapman, p. 1, Jan. 28, 1953, ibid)

The February 12 edition of the Daily Tar Heel provided front page illustrations of how to do the bunny hop, featured by Anthony's band. ("Bunny Hoppers May Make Life Magazine," p. 1, Feb. 12, 1953, ibid)

Bunny Hoppers on Franklin Street (1954 Yakkety Yack)

A number of band leaders received favorable reviews for their UNC appearances. A music review by Jerry Reece, said, "If 'old man' Woody Herman had wanted to start a fan club yesterday afternoon, he could have had about 1150 Carolina students in Memorial Hall as charter members." Reece's story praised the concert as 'Real Gone'." ("'Third Herd's' Jazz Concert is'Real Gone', by Jerry Reece, p. 1, March 18, 1954, ibid)

Reece wrote that Herman opened with the selection "Woodchopper's Ball." Reece reported "the old master rising to new heights on his 'red hot licorice stick'...The band didn't even get through the first chorus before the audience was lifting the roof with waves of applause." Vocalist Dolly Housten gave autographs and talked with back stage visitors at intermission time. Earlier she had stopped the show with her renditions of "Lover Come Back to Me" and "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe."

A January 16, 1954, interview with Ralph Materie brought Materie's assertion that "The public wants good, sweet, and tastefully arranged music with a danceable beat - that's what my band is prepared to give them." ("Materie, Davison Plan Germans" p. 1, Jan. 16, 1954, ibid)

"Jazz really came to Chapel Hill...," wrote reporter Fred Powledge. Marterie, he said, was known to "hepsters as the man born for the horn." Powledge described Materie as "a veteran bopster with a classical background, Marterie has been playing professionally since the age of 14." ("Davison Brings Jazz to Carolina; UNC Grad With Show Reminisces; Materie Schedule to Play Today," p. 1, Feb. 13, 1954, ibid)

One of the biggest combinations of band leaders at UNC occurred April 25, 1953, when Tommy Dorsey, "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing," appeared for the German Club to play for the spring concert and dance. The April 24 Daily Tar Heel noted that "Dorsey played here several years ago and was involved in litigation with the German Club when it was charged he didn't bring his full complement of musicians."

The Sunday, April 26, review by John Jamison and Louis Kraar proclaimed "A unexpected million dollar quartet - the two fabulous Dorseys, Ray Anthony, and Kay Kyser - yesterday treated a packed Memorial Hall throng of German Clubbers and their dates to the star-studdedest entertainment they're likely to see in a long time."

"... with the help of a scheduling coincidence, the big four got together and seemed to enjoy the reunion as much as the audience did."

"...Anthony, the young man with a horn, was fresh from an engagement at Duke and the horn was still warm."

"Kyser, as a result of someone's brainstorm and a hasty phone call, drifted on stage in a gardener's getup during one of Dorsey's smoother numbers and broke up the show." (Citation pending)

(Part of the brainstorm came from Kyser's wife, Kay, said former German Club president Jim Schenck, who knew both Anthony and the Kyser's. In a 1999 telephone interview, Schenck recalled the events that led up to the impromptu gathering. Schenck is featured, for example, in a November 1, 1953, photo of himself with band leaders Tommy Tucker and Johnny Long. Schenck said he helped provide audience seats at the Dorsey performance for the Ray Anthony band, and described the events of the day that brought Kyser to the Dorsey's performance.)

The combined bands led off with an unabridged version of "Muskrat Ramble" and included "When the Saints Go Marchin' In," and "Dixie." "Despite the customary backstage confusion, the four music masters chatted freely and were genuinely happy to be together again."

"In a little more serious conversation, Jimmy Dorsey told a reporter about the agreement to merge the two bands on May 13. He said there are no real unsolvable personality conflicts between him and his brother, although at one time there was a genuine animosity that developed over some small thing. He thinks they can get along, 'but we haven't started yet so how can we tell?'"

"Jimmy said backstage this will be the first time they have played together in about 17 years, except for the movie, 'The Fabulous Dorseys.'"

"Kyser's antics tickled the audience. Producing a long folding ruler, the old professor said, 'Just brought this along to measure how square your music is, Tommy.'" ("Dorsey Brothers Together With Anthony For Concert," by John Jamison and Louis Kraar, p. 1, April 26, 1953, ibid)

Table of Musicians in the 1950s at UNC

A significant number of big bands visited UNC during the early and mid-1950s. The term "Selections" in the following table means a Daily Tar Heel reporter either cited the actual work played, or mentioned a work in an advance article as associated with the musician. For bands with no review available, a modern compendium provided a list of works or record volumes popularly associated with the band within several years of its appearance at Chapel Hill.

The bands include: