This book is dedicated to Bob Williams, my father. who was privileged to have his weekly radio show on WHO Radio, "Bob Williams Big Band Show".

During each show, he would feature several famous big bands that he was very familiar with. He'd talk about each featured band and their music then would play their music.

The show ran from the mid-80s through the early 80s. His show was on Saturdays from 10;30 pm until 12 am. Bob Williams Big Band Show was very informative and fun to listen to. The show flew by so fast that you didn't even realize it was an hour and a half long.

The big band era transformed popular music in the United States throughout the first half of the twentieth century.

Big band is a style of music defined by an ensemble of musicians, known as a jazz orchestra, playing together. Big band music includes complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms. A vocalist or instrumental soloist is often featured, adding a melody on top of the jazz orchestra.

Here's the story of some of the most popular bands of the era.