He was born in New York City (but grew up in New Haven, Connecticut) and began learning the saxophone when he was 15 and by age 16, had begun to tour with a band. He reached Hollywood the first time, as a sideman with Irving Aaronson's band in 1931, performing at the famous Orange Blossom Room (site of the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929). Returning to New York City in1932, he became a highly in-demand session musician, working for example as one of just a handful of accompanists to Bing Crosby's first signature radio show for William S. Paley's already powerful and influential CBS radio network. Ultimately, Artie (who was known strictly as "Art" Shaw until his fortuitous Summer, 1938 contract with RCA Victor records' Bluebird label commenced) organized and led five, full-time touring orchestras that were all extremely popular -save the last, from 1949, with its be-bop oriented book. Ironically, that final Shaw-led big band (populated with players like Al Cohn), is considered by most jazz critics to have been Artie's best. With time out to lead a Navy service band (in the Pacific combat theater) during WWII, Shaw's actual big band- leading career lasted less than a decade overall -yet, it was a remarkably productive one, populated with some fourteen "Gold" records. These included such mega-hits as "Begin the Beguine", "Stardust", "Frenesi", "Moonglow", "Temptation", "Dancing In The Dark" and "Summit Ridge Drive" -the latter by his famous quintet billed as the Gramercy 5.
Shaw was known for being an innovator in the big band idiom, pioneering strings with jazz and using unusual instrumentations. His Summer, 1935 piece "Interlude in B-flat" was one of the earliest examples of what would be later dubbed "third stream". In 1938 he convinced Billie Holiday to be his band's vocalist, becoming the first white bandleader to hire a full-time black female singer. This 1938-1939 orchestra became phenomenonally successful and appeared in the movie "Dancing Co-ed" which also featured one of his future wives, Lana Turner, in the cast. Artie's clarinet playing, had by now reached a level that was arguably the greatest in jazz, easily rivaling that of Benny Goodman. Longtime Duke Ellington clarinetist Barney Bigard, himself a highly talented musician -cited Shaw (in 1940) as his "favorite" clarinet player. Literally abandoning his famous 1938-1939 band at the absolute peak of its' fame and earning power (Artie, just himself alone pulling down more than $10K per week) in late November, 1939, Shaw "abdicated" to Acapulco, Mexico. Returning to the U.S. he organized an entirely new orchestra, with full string section in the Summer of 1940. A truly stellar aggregation, it lasted until mid-1941, featuring stars Billy Butterfield, Johnny Guarneiri, Nick Fatool and Ray Conniff as principal arranger. This outfit can be prominently seen in the RKO film "Second Chorus" starring Fred Astaire and Paulette Goddard. The final pre-war Shaw band, started in late, 1941, had Davey Tough and Hot Lips Page and big hits on St. James Infirmary Blues and Blues In The NIght. Artie broke this outstanding unit up shortly after Pearl Harbor so he could "enlist" in the Navy -refusing an offered commission. Back from the Navy, Shaw put together a new band that featured Roy Eldridge and an ambitious library stocked with arrangements by Eddie Sauter, Buster Harding, Ray Conniff and others. Hit records for this band included "Little Jazz" and "S'Wonderful" and by now Artie was married to Ava Gardner. His final public performances (as a clarinetist) took place in 1954, including with a sublime quartet in an extended Las Vegas booking. Apparently, he last picked up and played his fabled clarinet in about 1960 at his beach house in Spain (as recounted in final wife actress Evelyn Keyes' autobiography) and resisted all lucrative offers to return to the stage until finally fielding a "ghost" band under the highly capable aegis of outstanding clarinetist Dick Johnson in 1985. For about the first year, Artie often appeared on stage with this very fine orchestra at certain, prestigious bookings, but soon tired of the "grind" -and not to Dick Johnson's dismay. This now true "ghost" band is still appearing during Summer seasons (with much of the original Shaw "books"), principally in the New England area (Johnson lives in Boston) and is well worth seeing. Although he had more wives (8) than bands, Artie fell one wife short of Charlie Barnet's record (for a famous bandleadrer) of nine.
A Foggy Day
Artie Shaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out of town were the people I knew
I had that feeling of self-pity
What to do, what to do, what to do
The outlook was decidedly blue
But as I walked through the foggy streets alone
It turned out to be the luckiest day I've known
A foggy day, in London town
Had me low, had me down
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
British Museum, had lost its charm
How long I wondered,
Could this thing last
But the age of miracles, hadn't past
For suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London town,
The sun was shining everywhere
For suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London town,
The sun was shining everywhere
Everywhere
Everywhere
Everywhere
The lyrics to Artie Shaw's song "A Foggy Day" poetically describe the feelings of loneliness and self-pity that a stranger experiences in a foreign city. The singer is out of their comfort zone and unsure of what to do in the unfamiliar surroundings. They feel blue and disheartened because they are far from the people they know and love. Nevertheless, as they are walking through the foggy streets alone, they happen to see someone who brightens up their day. Suddenly, everything feels more manageable, and even the foggy weather of London town can't put a damper on their newfound happiness.
Artie Shaw's "A Foggy Day" is both a romantic and atmospheric composition that is emblematic of the American jazz age. The song has some interesting facts attached to it, some of which are listed below:
1) It was written by George Gershwin and his brother Ira for the film "A Damsel in Distress" in 1937
2) The song was first performed by Fred Astaire in the film mentioned above.
3) The song has been covered by several artists, including Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.
4) The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.
5) The song has been featured in several films, including "Manhattan", "An American Werewolf in London", and "The Talented Mr. Ripley".
6) In 1952, an instrumental version of the song by Artie Shaw's band became a hit.
7) Several jazz musicians also recorded the song, including Miles Davis and Charlie Parker.
8) The song's title was changed to "A Foggy Day (In London Town)" after it became a hit for Shaw.
9) The song is known for its haunting melody and memorable chorus.
10) The song has been cited as an example of Great American Songbook and a timeless classic of American popular music.
The chords to "A Foggy Day" for guitar are as follows:
Intro: Em7 A7
Verse 1: Dmaj7 Dmaj7 Gmaj7 Gmaj7
Chorus: Cmaj7 C6 A7 A7
Verse 2: Dmaj7 Dmaj7 Gmaj7 Gmaj7
Chorus: Cmaj7 C6 A7 A7
Outro: Em7 A7.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a stranger in the city
Being unfamiliar with the people and place around me
Out of town were the people I knew
The people I was familiar with were not within proximity
I had that feeling of self-pity
Feeling sorry for myself
What to do, what to do, what to do
Being uncertain of how to proceed
The outlook was decidedly blue
Assuming a negative or pessimistic viewpoint
But as I walked through the foggy streets alone
Traveling through the misty roads without accompaniment
It turned out to be the luckiest day I've known
Realizing later that it was a serendipitous event
A foggy day, in London town
Experiencing a misty day in the city of London
Had me low, had me down
Made me feel sad and depressed
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
Regarded the start of the day with great concern
British Museum, had lost its charm
The British Museum no longer held its appeal
How long I wondered,
Curiously questioning
Could this thing last
Would the situation extend indefinitely
But the age of miracles, hadn't past
Hope that miraculous events could still occur
For suddenly, I saw you there
Witnessing the unexpected appearance of someone familiar
And through foggy London town,
Traveling through the misty roads of London
The sun was shining everywhere
Basking in happiness and warmth
Everywhere
In all directions
Everywhere
In all directions
Everywhere
In all directions
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bbcisrubbish
What a superb arrangement, magic.
Gary Letts
Great Rhythm section! The band really starts to cook after the trumpet solo and Artie's solo.
Robert Sorrentino
One of my favorite Shaw recordings, by his great band of the early 40's. Listen, especially, to that trombone section: Ray Conniff, Jack Jenney, and Vernon Brown. It doesn't get any better than that.
honoredutrey
If this is the June 5th.1945 recording,isn't the trombone section Harry Rodgers, Gus Dixon, Ollie Wilson, Bob Swift ?
Jeff Jones
Shaw's post war band. It was a terrific orchestra but never got the acclaim that his earlier bands did. The recordings he did for Victor with this band are among his very very best.
Mike Fleck
Beautiful music
MrJimmienoone
What a big fat sound. And a rhythm equalling Count Basie's. A musical foam bath, just to feel well as a bug in a rug.
esorliz1
man i love me some old jazz put alot of music on the map
Patton1987
My music!!!!!!!!
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 74yo Aussie fan.