Herman was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a child he worked as a singer in vaudeville, then became a professional saxophone player at age 15. When Isham Jones's band, of which Herman had been a member, broke up in 1936, he formed his own band, the Woody Herman Orchestra, with some of his band mates. This band became known for its orchestrations of the blues and was sometimes billed as "The Band That Plays The Blues".
On April 12, 1939 Woody Herman recorded his greatest commercial and mega popular hit record "Woodchoppers' Ball", featuring Woody on clarinet, Neal Ried on trombone, Saxie Mansfield on Sax, Steady Nelson on trumpet and Hy White on guitar. Other big early hits were "Blue Flame," "Dupree Blues", "Blues Upstairs and Downstairs" and "Blues in the Night" with Joe Bishop on flugelhorn, Tommy Linehans on piano, Cappy Lewis on trumpet, and the strong rhythm team of Walt Yoder and Frankie Carlson.
This popular swing band took off and was listed number three in the country in a popularity poll by Down Beat Magazine in 1940. This band recorded for the Decca label. The band was first pinned "Herman's Herd" in a Martin band instrument advertisement in the same magazine on April 1, 1941.
This band's music was heavily influenced by Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Its lively, swinging arrangements, combining bop themes with swing rhythm parts, were greatly admired; Igor Stravinsky wrote "Ebony Concerto" for this band. Other pieces for which the band was known include "Caldonia" and "Northwest Passage." During this time, Woody Herman recorded for the Columbia label. Featured musicians were trumpeter Sonny Berman,trumpeter/arranger Neil Hefti, trumpeter/vocalist Steady Nelson, tenor saxist Flip Phillips, trombonist Bill Harris, vibraphonist Red Norvo, pianist/arranger Ralph Burns, drummers Davey Tough and Don Lamond and bassist Chubby Jackson, who was the driving force/talent scout behind the bands progressive development.
Herman was forced to disband the orchestra in 1946 at the height of its success, his only financially successful band, to spend more time with his wife and family. During this time, he and his family had just moved into the former Hollywood home of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Another reason Herman may have disbanded was his wife Charlotte's growing problems with alcoholism and pill addiction. In 1947 Herman organized the Second Herd and in 1948 moved to the Capitol label. This band featured a cooler sound, provided by such musicians as Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Serge Chaloff, Al Cohn, Gene Ammons, Lou Levy, Oscar Pettiford, Terry Gibbs, Shelly Manne, and Herbie Steward. Among this band's hits were "Early Autumn," "The Goof and I," and "Four Brothers". This band was also known as the Four Brothers band.
Herman's many later bands included the Third Herd and the New Thundering Herd. He was known for hiring the best young musicians and using their arrangements. His band's book consequently came to be heavily influenced by rock and roll.
By the 1970s, Herman had returned to straight forward jazz, dropping some of the newer, even rock-oriented approaches. A highlight of the nineteen seventies was the appearance of the Woody Herman orchestra with Frank Sinatra at Madison Square Garden for his "Main Event" television special and "Main Event" recording for Reprise records.
He continued to perform into the 1980s, chiefly to pay back taxes caused by an incompetent manager in the 1960s. When his health began to fail, he delegated most of his duties to leader of the reed section, Frank Tiberi, before his death in 1987. Tiberi leads the band in performances to this day.
After the death of Herman, Charles Mingus, and other jazz greats, ASCAP created a retirement fund in 1991 to which artists were given the opportunity to fund their latter years when they no longer were recording artists.
Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
Woody Herman Lyrics
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But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
Since everyone spread the story
With his own little personal touch
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue
When we're apart the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
Is over my head
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue
When we're apart the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
The main message of Woody Herman's "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" is to not believe in rumors until you hear the truth from the person involved. The lyrics describe how someone may have heard something about the singer that isn't necessarily true, and he wants his significant other to not judge him based on what others are saying until he has a chance to explain himself.
The first verse speaks about how the story has spread with individuals adding their own personal touches, which is a common occurrence with rumors. The singer urges his lover to not believe in the rumor until he confirms it to be true or false.
In the second verse, the singer admits that he has been seen with someone new, but he asks whether that means that he is untrue. He reassures his lover that the words in his heart, when they are apart, reveal how he feels about her. The final lines emphasize his message to wait until he clarifies anything:
"Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will"
Overall, the lyrics are advising to not let rumors create unnecessary problems in relationships and to communicate directly with people instead of relying on hearsay.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone told someone and someone told you
Gossip and rumors spread quickly from one person to another until it reaches you.
But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
The people spreading rumors don't necessarily mean to harm you, but their words can still have an impact.
Since everyone spread the story with his own little personal touch
As the rumor spreads, each person adds their own interpretation or embellishment to the story.
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Don't believe the rumors until you hear the truth directly from me.
Pay no attention to what's said
Ignore the gossip and don't let it affect how you feel about me.
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream is over my head
I don't understand why some people try to destroy others' happiness or aspirations.
At least consider our romance
Give our relationship a fair chance and don't let rumors ruin it.
If you should take the word of others you've heard, I haven't a chance
If you believe the rumors without giving me a chance to explain, our relationship will be doomed.
True I've been seen with someone new, but does that mean that I'm untrue
I may have been seen with someone else, but it doesn't mean I've been unfaithful or lost interest in you.
When we're apart the words in my heart reveal how I feel about you
When we're not together, my true feelings are expressed in my thoughts and emotions.
Some kiss may cloud my memory, and other arms may hold a thrill
I may have had other experiences, but they don't compare to the feelings I have for you.
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me, and you never will
Wait to hear the truth directly from me, because you can trust that I will always be honest with you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, BOB RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OLD_SOUL1900
I love this style from Woody Herman. SOOOO good.😚
@JonathanBrown1
Amazing
@fluffshepnetwork7067
At 0:13, the lead trumpet quotes "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" in an obvious nod to Ellington. It's like Herman, in having his lead trumpeter play that quote is citing his source.
@lizlee6290
Who knew Woody did vocal? Not me!
@vHumboldt77
I like Herman's version more than Ellington's lol
@dominiquecruz4147
The only song i cant find on apple music