"Jazz Decades" host Ray Smith has died.

From the WGBH website:

From John Voci, General Manager of WGBH Radio.

On Friday, February 26, Ray Smith passed away at the age of 87. He leaves Marilyn, his wife of 61 years, three children and jazz fans everywhere.

Ray came to WGBH in 1972 and over the next 38 years, he produced more than 1900 programs.

Ray first produced the Jazz Decades in 1958 for WKOX in Framingham, Massachusetts making the show one of the longest running programs in Boston radio history.

Ray was an accomplished drummer and a member of many traditional jazz bands including the Black Eagles, the Yankee Rhythm Kings, the Jazz Decades and the Paramount Jazz Band. For many years, he regularly performed at the Sticky Wicket Pub in Hopkinton.

A native of Melrose, Ray was a decorated veteran for his service during the Second World War including being part of the invading forces during the battle of Iwo Jima. In 1989, Ray retired from a career as a graphic designer and in 1997; he left New England for Hilton Head, South Carolina where he continued to produce his program.

Ray had an encyclopedic knowledge of ragtime, blues, swing and the great jazz of the 1920s and 30s. His passion for the music he loved was infectious. We remember Ray for his music but he was also one of the nicest and most gracious men that you could hope to meet. We invite you to post your comments and remembrances at our Jazz Decades page online at WGBH.Org.

Because of the archives, the show will continue both on-air and online for some time to come but we’ll all miss our colleague and friend Ray Smith, our guide through the Jazz Decades.

He and his wonderful program will be much missed.

"I've Got Something" February 26, 2010

(Week 197)

UPDATE: This show may be downloaded in 128k mp3 format here: HOUR 1 and HOUR 2.

Yes, I've got something--for this RADIOLA! I have an array of delightful shellac, all recently acquired.

Tune in tonight at 8 PM to WHCL (with direct streaming HERE or HERE). The show will be uploaded to my Live365 station shortly thereafer--with other listening options available soon.

Genevieve Davis and Leonard Mitchell - I've Got Something (1927) - Victor 20648 B
Joe Haymes and his Orch (Roy Wager v) - Lazybones (1933) - Perfect 15790 A
Willard Robison w/Ipana Troubadours - Wake Up! Chill'un, Wake Up! (1929) - from Columbia 1779-D
Seven Blue Babies - Heigh Ho! Ev'rybody, Heigh Ho! (1929) - Edison 14016 L
Jack Hart (acc by Sam Lanin's Orch) - Broadway Melody (1929) - Harmony 845 H
Plantation Players (Tom Stacks v) - You Never Get Nowhere Holding Hands (1927) - Romeo 409
Chester Gaylord - If I Had a Girl Like You (1930) - Brunswick 4819
Kitty O'Connor (The Girl Baritone) - Dream Kisses (1928) - Columbia 1140 D
Correll and Gosden (Delos Owen, p) - Meadow Lark (1926) - Victor 20286 A
California Ramblers - Oh Mabel (1924) - Columbia 268 D
Edith Wilson and her Jazz Band - Daddy Change Your Mind (1924) - Columbia 14008 D
Jerome Conrad and his Orch (IK v) - Susianna (1928) - Harmony 824 H
Kate Smith (acc by The Harmonians) - Moanin' Low (1929) - Velvet Tone 1999 V
Harry Brady (IK) - Used To You (1929) - Velvet Tone 1980 V
Bessie Smith - I'm Wild About That Thing (1929) - Columbia 14427 D
Al Raymond (The United Statesman) - The Senator's First Speech Pt 1 (1923) - Cameo 330
Al Raymond (The United Statesman) - The Senator's First Speech Pt 2 (1923) - Cameo 330
Fred Whitehouse - Palesteena (1920) - Brunswick 2055 A
Jack Kaufman - Why Did You Do It? (1919) - Columbia A 2865
Edith Wilson and her Jazz Band - I Don't Know And I Don't Care Blues (1924) - Columbia 14008 D
Lloyd Keating's Music (Dick Robertson v) - Hiding in the Shadows of the Moon (1931) - Clarion 5419 C
Jerry Fenwyck's Orch (Eddie Walters v) - Makin' Faces at the Man in the Moon (1931) - Clarion 5353 C
Johnny Marvin - Same Old Moon Same Old June (1929) - Victor 22125 B
Al Bowlly (acc by Ray Noble's Orch) - My Melancholy Baby (1935) - Victor 25007 A
Helen Clark - Redskin (1929) - Victor 21878 B
Jerry Cooper (acc by Eddie Duchin's Orch uncredited) - Timber (1936) - Victor 25485 A
Jerry Fenwyck and his Orch (Eddie Walters v) - Just One More Chance (1931) - Clarion 5353 C
Joe Haymes and his Orch (Mike Doty v) - Happy As The Day Is Long (1933) - Perfect 15790 A
California Ramblers - Down South Camp Meeting (1937) - Variety VA 577
Lewis James - Forever (1928) - Victor 21733 B
Jack Fulton - It's Easy To Remember (1935) - Banner 33421 B
Bessie Smith - You've Got to Give Me Some (1929) - Columbia 14427

NO RADIOLA! ON WHCL--ENJOY THIS "CLASSIC"

Owing to a sports broadcast, there's no RADIOLA! on WHCL Friday, February 19. For my internet listeners, I've reached way back into the archives for a fun one--and I could use a little fun about now: "It's The Animal In Me," originally aired January 27, 2006. The show is posted on my Live365 station, and may be downloaded in 128k mp3 format here: HOUR 1 and HOUR 2.

"A Bunch Of Rags" February 12, 2010

(Week 196)

UPDATE: This program is now available for download: HOUR 1 and HOUR 2.

This RADIOLA! features 36 different recordings, including the oldest disc in my collection, in an unusually "ragged" playlist (which matches my mood perfectly).

Tune in 8 PM Eastern Friday to WHCL (with direct streaming HERE or HERE). The show will be available on my Live365 station soon.

Also, those intrigued by Little Wonder records can read about them on this excellent site.

Vess L. Ossman - A Bunch of Rags (1901) - Victor 153
Arthur Fields - Stay Down Here Where You Belong (1914) - Little Wonder 46
Quartette - It's Going to Be a Cold, Cold Winter (1914) - Little Wonder 84
Willard Robison w/Ipana Troubadours - Wake Up! Chill'un, Wake Up! (1929) - from Columbia 1779-D
Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven - Weary Blues (1927) - Hot Fives & Sevens, Vol. 2 (JSP CD 313)
Jelly Roll Morton Trio - Shreveport (1928) - Bluebird B 7710 A (dubbing)
Carroll Dickerson's Savoyagers - Symphonic Raps - Hot Fives & Sevens - Vol 3 (JSP CD 314)
Collins and Harlan - Under the Anheuser Bush (1904) - Victor 2668
Ada Jones - I'm In Love With the Slide Trombone (1907) - Zon-o-phone 829
Gus Van - Beans, Beans, Beans (1918) - Columbia A2629
Band - Pigeon Walk (1914) - Little Wonder 149
Frank Trumbauer and his Orch - A Good Man is Hard to Find (1927) - Okeh 40966
Dinah - What's Keeping My Prince Charming (1931) - Decca F2593 B
Red Nichols and his Five Pennies (Scrappy Lambert v) - Nobody Knows (1929) - Brunswick 6832
Tommy Malie and Little Jack Little - Because They All Love You (1924) - Cameo 596
Quartette - My Croony Melody (1914) - Little Wonder 65
Band - Les Copeland's Rag (Thirty-Eighth Street Rag) (1914) - Little Wonder 293
Art Landry and his Call of the North Orch - Rip Saw Blues (1923) - Gennett 5255 B
Al and Joni Gallodoro - Punchinello (2000) - Master Class (Golden Rooster unreleased)
Dan Levinson and his Swing Wing (Molly Ryan v) - Ten Cents a Dance (2008) - “At The Codfish Ball”
Vess L. Ossman - Stars and Stripes Forever (1897) - Berliner 470 Z
Al Jolson - Back to the Carolina You Love (1914) - Little Wonder 20
Band - Maori (1914) - Little Wonder 29
Orchestra (Fred Van Eps) - Medley No. 4 (1914) - Little Wonder 153
Virginia Lee - Just a Little Blue For You (1928) - Supertone 9276 B
Frank Trumbauer and his Orch - Crying All Day (1927) - Okeh 40966
Clyde McCoy and his Orch - Wah Wah Lament (1933) - Columbia DB 679 (UK)
Reilly and Comfort - Lazybones (1933) - Decca F 3668 A (UK)
Fats Waller and his Rhythm - How Can You Face Me (1934) - Bluebird B 10143 B
The Yas Yas Girl (Merline Johnson) - My Independent Man (1937) - Vocalion 04013
Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five - Don't Jive Me (1928) - Hot Fives & Sevens - Vol 3 (JSP CD 314)
Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orch - Jungle Fever (1934) - Brunswick 6932
Red Nichols and his Five Pennies - Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble (1930) - Brunswick 4885
Arthur Cavendish - Love Me Tonight (1932) - Sterno 1059
Harry Jacobson (Arthur Young piano) - You're The Top (1934) - Decca F 5544 A (UK)
Wingie Manone and his Orch - Stop the War (1941) - Bluebird B 11107 A

NO RADIOLA! ON WHCL--INTERNET ONLY REBROADCAST

UPDATE: These programs are now available for download in 128k mp3 format: "Rosebud" HOUR 1 and HOUR 2; "Last Ditch Effort" HOUR 1 and HOUR 2.

Owing to a sports broadcast on WHCL tonight, RADIOLA! will not be aired. For my internet listeners, I'm uploading two programs: from October 5, 2007, "Rosebud!" and from March 2, 2007, "Last Ditch Effort." These are now posted on my Live365 station.