Do men do the courting or do they only think they do? That was the “Question of the Day” in 1946 when Chicago Daily Tribune columnist Maryon Zylstra interviewed Chuck Foster and five of his orchestra members, including Harry, who was just 19 at the time. This old newspaper column gave Barbara quite a chuckle in light of her whirlwind romance with Harry in 1961.
Harry Brabec spent two years with Wayne King’s Orchestra, on the road as well as when the orchestra was performing on television in Chicago. Here are some of his memories of the band in 1949-1951.
An excerpt from THE DRUMMER DRIVES! book with photos of the Chuck Foster Orchestra and band personnel, and Harry and his parents dining with Foster and friends shortly before the band left the Blackhawk in 1945. Article includes links to two soundies on YouTube featuring two of the band’s soloists, and Harry on drums.
Record-collecting is a hobby that can get out of hand. Over a thirty-year period, Harry collected nearly 5,000 LPs, ending up with a large collection of big band/jazz albums. LP collectors will find this post of particular interest.
Harry Brabec did a lot of one-nighters with the orchestras of Chuck Foster, Wayne King and others between 1945 and 1951. Here, from one of his letters, are a few of his remembrances of those days.
