Vincent Lopez (born this day in 1895) was a popular bandleader of the 1920s and 30s. He started out as a piano player for vaudeville acts like Rooney and Bent. In 1917 he organized his first band and began touring big time vaudeville (including the Palace) in the early 20s. Once vaudeville faded he played live radio from hotel ballrooms through 1965. He passed away in 1975.
Here now his 1929 recording of “Chant of the Jungle”
To find out more about the history of vaudeville, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever nutty books are sold.
