Country Washburn--Tuba History Lesson--1920s Pop Music
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:10 am
Joe "Country" Washburn (1904-74)
He was the tuba and bass player with the Ted Weems Orchestra from 1924 to 1942. Tuba was the bass of choice for popular music until the electronic microphone was popularized around 1930. He was also Ted's singer and chief arranger.
Good Morning, Good Evening, Good Night (Vocal by Country Washburn)
He was a great tuba player and, when he could, his arrangements let him show off a little bit, although he didn't want to get too carried away.
Even after 1930, Country Washburn still played tuba--one of the few pop tuba players in the 1930s, other than the man who played for Guy Lombardo.
After he left Ted Weems, he played for Spike Jones. He was with Spike for about eight years, then he went to CBS in Hollywood as a staff arranger and band leader.
He died in 1974, less than a month after his sixty-ninth birthday.
Video of the Ted Weems band
Here's something for other players. Ted Weems had a great band. This was his theme song, "Heartaches." Country Washburn isn't playing tuba, but it's his arrangement. The whistler is Elmo Tanner.
Heartaches (Whistling by Elmo Tanner)
He was the tuba and bass player with the Ted Weems Orchestra from 1924 to 1942. Tuba was the bass of choice for popular music until the electronic microphone was popularized around 1930. He was also Ted's singer and chief arranger.
Good Morning, Good Evening, Good Night (Vocal by Country Washburn)
He was a great tuba player and, when he could, his arrangements let him show off a little bit, although he didn't want to get too carried away.
Even after 1930, Country Washburn still played tuba--one of the few pop tuba players in the 1930s, other than the man who played for Guy Lombardo.
After he left Ted Weems, he played for Spike Jones. He was with Spike for about eight years, then he went to CBS in Hollywood as a staff arranger and band leader.
He died in 1974, less than a month after his sixty-ninth birthday.
Video of the Ted Weems band
Here's something for other players. Ted Weems had a great band. This was his theme song, "Heartaches." Country Washburn isn't playing tuba, but it's his arrangement. The whistler is Elmo Tanner.
Heartaches (Whistling by Elmo Tanner)