Biography
Studio aggregations of shifting personnel operated under the Captivators name throughout the late 1920s and 1930s. Brunswick, a label known for its affinity with jazz, released many of their sides, which showcased leading swing musicians in various ensemble configurations whose leadership often remained loosely defined. Trumpeter Red Nichols has since been credited with nominal direction over numerous dates, and at least some Captivators recordings have been reissued under his name. Drummer Gene Krupa, clarinetist Benny Goodman, trombonists Jack Teagarden and Glenn Miller, and vocalist Scrappy Lambert all participated in these sessions.
Some releases carried humor as broad as Iowa's farm output, a trait immediately evident in titles such as "A Girl Friend of a Boy Friend of Mine" and "I Used to Love Her in the Moonlight (But She's in the Limelight Now)". Nichols and his colleagues also recorded versions of standards including "I Got Rhythm" and "Embraceable You". In addition to the better-known figures, lesser-recognized yet noteworthy musicians took part, among them banjoist Larry Binyon, pianist Rube Bloom, and guitarist Carl Kress. The Captivators name later resurfaced elsewhere in entertainment, serving as a common choice for reggae bands, designating one of musical genius Raymond Scott's combos in the early 1940s, and identifying a nemesis faced by the superhero Pokemon.
Some releases carried humor as broad as Iowa's farm output, a trait immediately evident in titles such as "A Girl Friend of a Boy Friend of Mine" and "I Used to Love Her in the Moonlight (But She's in the Limelight Now)". Nichols and his colleagues also recorded versions of standards including "I Got Rhythm" and "Embraceable You". In addition to the better-known figures, lesser-recognized yet noteworthy musicians took part, among them banjoist Larry Binyon, pianist Rube Bloom, and guitarist Carl Kress. The Captivators name later resurfaced elsewhere in entertainment, serving as a common choice for reggae bands, designating one of musical genius Raymond Scott's combos in the early 1940s, and identifying a nemesis faced by the superhero Pokemon.
Albums
