Rosemary Calvin

Photo of Rosemary Calvin

Detroit native Rosemary Calvin sang with several bands in the late 1930s and into the 1940s. Calvin worked locally with Lee Walters’ orchestra in 1937 and on radio stations WJR and WWJ. She was with Freddie Rich in 1940, where she made her first recordings. In early 1945, she joined Vaughn Monroe, staying until August when she left for George Paxton, where she first worked with trumpet player and scat singer Johnny Bond. In early 1947, she sang with Les Elgart and in the fall joined Ray Eberle’s orchestra, where she once again worked with Bond. When Bond left Eberle in February 1948 to form his own combo, she joined him as vocalist. That year she also signed with the Majestic label and released two sides with the Tony Mottolo Four.

By late 1948, both Calvin and Bond were back with Paxton. When the bandleader scrapped his orchestra in early 1949 to open a music publishing house, she joined Bond again as vocalist for his new five-piece orchestra. Bond’s new outfit met with much more success than his previous efforts, with the group recording on the MGM label in 1949 and on Capitol in 1950. Calvin often received co-billing with Bond and remained with the band until at least late 1951 when it disbanded.

Calvin’s father, Lee, was stage manager for Spike Jones.

Sources

  1. “Lee Walters' Canary.” Down Beat Aug. 1937: 28.
  2. “Musicians Leave Town To Star In Other Bands.” Down Beat Dec. 1937: 42.
  3. “Grieg, Calypso, Hillbilly---All on Records This Week.” St. Petersburg Times [St. Petersburg, Florida] 11 Feb. 1942: 37.
  4. “Strictly Ad Lib.” Down Beat 15 Jan. 1945: 5.
  5. “Vaudeville Reviews: Orpheum, Los Angeles.” Billboard 14 Apr. 1945: 27.
  6. “Night Club Reviews: College Inn, Hotel Sherman, Chicago.” Billboard 7 Jul. 1945: 34.
  7. “Night Club Reviews: Panther Room, Hotel Sherman, Chicago.” Billboard 1 Sep. 1945: 37.
  8. “Calvin Joins Paxton.” Down Beat 15 Sep. 1945: 4.
  9. “Detroit Downtown Jumps to $14,500 With Louis Prima.” Billboard 22 Sep. 1945: 32.
  10. “Vaudeville Reviews: Capitol, New York.” Billboard 20 Jul. 1946: 44.
  11. “Les Elgart Signs With Wm. Morris.” Billboard 22 Mar. 1947: 16.
  12. “Advanced Record Releases.” Billboard 26 Apr. 1947: 34.
  13. “Calvin Joins Eberle.” Down Beat 17 Dec. 1947: 5.
  14. “Trade Tattle.” Down Beat 17 Feb. 1948: 18.
  15. “Trade Tattle.” Down Beat 10 Mar. 1948: 22.
  16. “Trade Tattle.” Down Beat 19 May 1948: 7.
  17. “Vaudeville Reviews: Capitol, New York.” Billboard 18 Dec. 1948: 47.
  18. “Capsule Comments.” Down Beat 29 Dec. 1948: 11.
  19. Advertisement Billboard 19 Mar. 1949: 43.
  20. “Bond to Village Barn.” Down Beat 12 Aug. 1949: 11.
  21. “On the Stand: Johnny Bond.” Billboard 31 Dec. 1949: 31.
  22. “Music As Written.” Billboard 1 Apr. 1950: 45.
  23. “Music As Written.” Billboard 3 Jun. 1950: 18.
  24. “Music As Written.” Billboard 19 Aug. 1950: 17.