...an intimate visit with many of the major figures in what is often called "The Golden Age of Swing." Fred Hall, in a laid-back, highly informed way, talks with BOB CROSBY, DICK HAYMES, JO STAFFORD, PAUL WESTON, WOODY HERMAN, MEL TORME, GEORGE SHEARING and WILD BILL DAVIDSON. Here, too, in their homes, are PEGGY LEE, ARTIE SHAW, JIMMY VAN HEUSEN and MAXENE ANDREWS. There's a tribute to GLENN MILLER based on interviews with key former members of his bands. Those who lived through the Big Band era wonder about the stars who made it the high point of American popular music. Fans and music lovers will find this book fascinating and entertaining.

GENE LEES, author, editor, publisher of The Jazzletter, and composer: Fred Hall's knowledge of American music, particularly that of the swing era, is remarkable. Because of it, he puts his subjects immediately at ease and they reveal themselves with enormous candor. These are delightful and historically invaluable interviews.

STEVE ALLEN, composer, musician, writer: In this fascinating collection of interviews with some of the great music-makers of the century, Hall enters into the historical record observations that are of great cultural importance.

LEONARD FEATHER, jazz critic, author, and composer: Fred Hall's obvious pleasure in talking to his subjects will surely enable the reader to share his enthusiasm and appreciate his perception.

ISBN-0-934793-19-0