Jim Davidson & His New Palais Royal Orchestra - Forty Second Street (1933)

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Jim Davidson (James Hutchinson Davidson 06.08.1902 - 09.04.1982) was born in Bowral NSW and was the leader of Australia’s first and most successful, swing band. Davidson was a drummer and joined Jimmie Elkins’ orchestra in 1924, playing theatre circuits in Sydney & Melbourne. Broadcasts were over 2FC (Sydney) and recordings made for Columbia at their Homebush studios. In early 1931 Jim joined George Rawlinson’s group at the Oriental Cafe. Jim was spotted by the entrepreneur Jim Bendrodt, whose Palais Royal establishment was suffering a drop in business. On May 5th 1933 the new season opened with a Gala ball, Jim Davidson & his orchestra were on the stage. The hugely successful orchestra rotated between Sydney & Melbourne. In 1941 Jim and 7 of his musicians enlisted in the AIF. Davidson formed an Army Entertainment Group which he took to the Middle East, and after the War, he went to London as head of the BBC’s Light Entertainment section. I prize his wonderful recordings he left to us! On this recording in Sydney on June 6th 1933 Jim Davidson & His New Palais Royal Orchestra perform “Forty Second Street”. Recorded at the Regal Zonophone studios on Matrix #WT-1256 and issued on 78rpm Cat #G-21717