Benjamin (Benny) Adolphus Rolfe was, at one time, best known for his coast-to-coast network radio program which aired weekly from 1928 through 1931. Called the Lucky Strike Dance Hour, it was like many early radio shows, named after its sponsor – in this case, a brand of cigarettes. He described his conception of dance music during this period in terms that "it should throb and laugh with happiness; it should have the rhythm of a rubber ball, bouncing back, only to fall again, going on and on." He remained fairly active in the radio field up through around 1942 doing shows for Ivory Soap and Ripley's Believe It or Not. He hosted the NBC morning show in 1935, and led an all-girl orchestra in 1942.
B.A. Rolfe recorded for Edison throughout the late 1920s, the period during which he hosted the Lucky Strike Dance Hour. Ultimately, he had played 7,460 dance tunes during a total of 468 shows. The selections on this CD release are from that period and taken from the Edison collection of test pressing recordings, many of which were previously unreleased.
This Wonderful Collection Includes:
No Parking - June 1, 1928
Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man - February 10, 1928
True Blue Lou † - June 28, 1929
You Took Advantage of Me** - June 26, 1928
Pell Street Bells - June 19, 1928
Where Were You, Where Was I † - October 9, 1928
You Tell me Your Dream* - October 23, 1928
Gypsy / L.W. Gilbert - November 15, 1928
Blue Night* - November 15, 1928
Mia Bella Rosa* - January 11, 1929
A Room with a View* - November 30, 1928
Lover Come Back to Me* - March 26, 1929
Toymakers Dream* - January 17, 1929
My Angeline* - March 7, 1929
If I Had You † - February 21, 1929
Fioretta - February 21, 1929
Carolina Moon* - March 7, 1929
Sorrows*** - (N-913A)
Mean to Me † - May 9, 1929
Spanish Doll - May 23, 1929
* Vocal by Theo Alban
** Vocal by The Rollickers and Hall
*** Vocal by J. Donald Parker
† Vocal by unknown artist or artists
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