Bea Wain bears ’Heart and Soul’ about Larry Clinton
Singer Bea Wain is best remembered for her time with Larry Clinton and his orchestra. In a recent interview, Bea, provided this inside look at Larry Clinton. Clinton has been described as a realist, businessman, organized, and well-liked, but not outgoing. Here is Bea's take on Larry.
"He was very intelligent, but he was... what's the word I want... he was a very quiet man," she said. "I was surprised when he became a bandleader, or that he became a bandleader, because he really didn't like standing in front of the band."
Clinton himself used to say that he had a "10:30 lip" (meaning that his weak embouchure would give out by 10:30 at night).
"You know, he played a few instruments, but none of them were solo instruments," she stated. "I mean, he played, like, third trumpet and fourth trombone, just so that he had something to hold on the bandstand. That's not quite fair, but it's true."
He didn't give her any instruction on how he wanted her to sing with the band.
"Absolutely never," she said. "He never told me what to do or how to do it, just handed me the song and said this is what we're gonna do and what key do you want it in?"
Here is Bea Wain with Larry Clinton and his orchestra singing their 1939 hit "Heart And Soul." This track can be found in the My Reverie CD by clicking here.
The life of a big band musician, even in the top bands of the late 30's and early 40's, was anything but glamorous.
