At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill he formed his own campus jazz group, the Carolina Club Orchestra. The band recorded for English Columbia and Perfect/Pathe records in 1924-5. This first group toured Europe in the summer of 1924 under the sponsorship of popular bandleader Paul Specht. Kemp returned to UNC in 1925 and put together a new edition of the Carolina Club Orchestra, featuring fellow classmates and future stars John Scott Trotter, Saxie Dowell, and Skinnay Ennis. In 1927 Kemp turned leadership of the Carolina Club Orchestra over to fellow UNC student Kay Kyser and turned professional. The band was based in New York City, and included Trotter, Dowell, and Ennis, and a few years later trumpeters Bunny Berigan and Jack Purvis joined the group. The sound was 1920s collegiate jazz. Kemp once again toured Europe in the summer of 1930. This band recorded regularly for Brunswick, English Duophone, Okeh and Melotone Records.
In 1932, during the height of the Depression, Kemp decided to lead the band in a new direction, changing the orchestra's style to a that of a dance band (often mistakenly referred to as "sweet"), using muted triple-tonguing trumpets, clarinets playing low sustained notes in unison through large megaphones (an early version of the echo chamber effect), and a double-octave piano.
One of the main reasons for the band's success was arranger John Scott Trotter. Singer Skinnay Ennis had difficulty sustaining notes, so Trotter came up with the idea of filling in these gaps with muted trumpets playing staccato triplets. This gave the band a unique sound, which Johnny Mercer jokingly referred to as sounding like a "typewriter." The saxes often played very complex extremely difficult passages which won them the praise of fellow musicians. Vocalists with the band at this time included Ennis, Dowell, Bob Allen, Deane Janis, Maxine Gray, Judy Starr, Nan Wynn, and Janet Blair. During the 1930s, Kemp recorded for Brunswick, Vocalion and (RCA) Victor records. Hal Kemp, [artistKay Kyser and Tal Henry were often having a Carolinian reunion in New York. All three were great musicians from North Carolina and enjoyed the olde' time get together, according to the newspaper from Chapel Hill, NC where Hal and Kay were in school.
Kemp's band introduced or promoted numerous popular songs, including "Got a Date With an Angel", "Lamplight", "Heart of Stone", "There's a Small Hotel" and "Three Little Fishies" (written by the band's saxophonist, Saxie Dowell).
In 1936, Hal Kemp was number one for two weeks with "There's a Small Hotel" and two weeks with "When I'm With You". In 1937, his number one hits were "This Year's Kisses", which was number one for four weeks, and "Where or When", which was number one for one week.
Hal Kemp's compositions included "Blue Rhythm", "In Dutch with the Duchess", "Five Steps to Love", "Off the Beat", and "Workout". His brother T.D. Kemp, Jr. and sister Marie Kemp-Dunaway, in collaboration with bandleader Whitey Kaufman, wrote "Hurry Back, Old Sweetheart of Mine" which was an early Kemp recording. Contrary to popular belief, Hal did not compose his theme song "(How I'll Miss You) When the Summer is Gone", but purchased the rights to the song in 1937. Also, there is no evidence that he composed "The Same Time, the Same Place".
On December 19, 1940, while driving from Los Angeles to a booking in San Francisco, his car hit another head on. Kemp suffered a broken leg and multiple broken ribs, one of which eventually punctured a lung. He developed pneumonia while in the hospital and two days later died.
In 1992, Hal Kemp was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
Medley
Hal Kemp and his Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swine lane gal will you try something
About some bon middle round
The gravy tastes like a ?
If you're feeling bon
If you're feeling bon
If you're feeling bon
Holy light let me boil the rice
Holy light, holy light
Holy light let me boil the rice
If you're feeling bon
If you're feeling bon
If you're feeling bon
Kally kally kill me kally kally kill me
Kally kally kill me, say bye bye rice
Kally kally kill me kally kally kill me
Kally kally kill me, say bye bye rice
If you're feeling bon
If you're feeling bon
If you're feeling bon
If I drink white rum and I tumble down
I know one dotty gal come ? me
If I drink white rum and I tumble down
I know one dotty gal come ? me
Iron bar, iron bar
Iron bar, iron bar
Iron bar, iron bar
Know one dotty gal come ? me
I went downstairs and the door was locked
So I took out me hammer and I bust the lock
I went downstairs and the door was locked
So I took out me hammer and I bust the lock
Iron bar, iron bar
Iron bar, iron bar
Iron bar, iron bar
Know one dotty gal come ? me
If I drink white rum and I tumble down
I know one dotty gal come ? me
If I drink white rum and I tumble down
I know one dotty gal come ? me
Iron bar, iron bar
Iron bar, iron bar
Iron bar, iron bar
Know one dotty gal come ? me
The lyrics to Hal Kemp and his Orchestra's Medley are difficult to interpret and likely have roots in Caribbean folklore. The first section of the song features the repetition of "Swine lane gal" and references to gravy, potentially alluding to a humorous story or inside joke amongst the performers. The second section titled "Holy light" includes the refrain "let me boil the rice" and "if you're feeling bon" which may reference a spiritual or religious ritual.
The third section titled "Kally kally kill me" features the repeated phrase "say bye bye rice" which could be a curse or a reference to the end of a meal. The final section titled "Iron bar" features a repetition of the phrase "know one dotty gal come to me" which may reference a woman who is known for her wild behavior. The recurring reference to drinking white rum and tumbling down may also suggest that the song is about the perils of heavy drinking.
Line by Line Meaning
Swine lane gal, swine lane gal
Addressing a woman with a derogatory term, asking her a question.
Swine lane gal will you try something
Asking the woman to take a chance on something.
About some bon middle round
Referring to a certain food item that has a pleasant taste or texture.
The gravy tastes like a ?
Questioning the quality of the food item and specifically the gravy.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
Holy light, holy light
An exclamation of awe or surprise.
Holy light let me boil the rice
Asking for assistance in cooking rice.
Holy light, holy light
An exclamation of awe or surprise.
Holy light let me boil the rice
Asking for assistance in cooking rice.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
Kally kally kill me kally kally kill me
Repeating a phrase, possibly referring to getting rid of something or someone.
Kally kally kill me, say bye bye rice
Commanding someone to get rid of rice.
Kally kally kill me kally kally kill me
Repeating a phrase, possibly referring to getting rid of something or someone.
Kally kally kill me, say bye bye rice
Commanding someone to get rid of rice.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
If you're feeling bon
If you are feeling good or happy.
If I drink white rum and I tumble down
If the artist consumes enough alcohol to become intoxicated.
I know one dotty gal come ? me
The singer believes that a promiscuous woman will take advantage of them.
If I drink white rum and I tumble down
If the artist consumes enough alcohol to become intoxicated.
I know one dotty gal come ? me
The singer believes that a promiscuous woman will take advantage of them.
Iron bar, iron bar
Referring to a specific weapon or tool.
Iron bar, iron bar
Referring to a specific weapon or tool.
Iron bar, iron bar
Referring to a specific weapon or tool.
Know one dotty gal come ? me
The artist believes that a promiscuous woman will take advantage of them and specifically that she will come near them.
I went downstairs and the door was locked
The singer encountered a obstacle trying to gain entry somewhere.
So I took out me hammer and I bust the lock
The singer took matters into their own hands and used force to overcome the obstacle.
I went downstairs and the door was locked
The artist encountered a obstacle trying to gain entry somewhere.
So I took out me hammer and I bust the lock
The artist took matters into their own hands and used force to overcome the obstacle.
Iron bar, iron bar
Referring to a specific weapon or tool.
Iron bar, iron bar
Referring to a specific weapon or tool.
Iron bar, iron bar
Referring to a specific weapon or tool.
Know one dotty gal come ? me
The singer believes that a promiscuous woman will take advantage of them and specifically that she will come near them.
If I drink white rum and I tumble down
If the singer consumes enough alcohol to become intoxicated.
I know one dotty gal come ? me
The singer believes that a promiscuous woman will take advantage of them.
If I drink white rum and I tumble down
If the artist consumes enough alcohol to become intoxicated.
I know one dotty gal come ? me
The artist believes that a promiscuous woman will take advantage of them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TRAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roland VV-360
Ever seen another copy of this record? I've searched for it for years and have found nothing, so far at least.