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Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS), a creation of the American , was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government of the United States, for the U.S. soldiers and military employees. These AFRS productions were broadcast into the early fifties in several series, for example AFRS-Bandwagon, AFRS-Downbeat, AFRS-G.I. Jive, AFRS-Command-Performance, AFRS-Basic Music Library or AFRS-Jubilee, to mention the more important ones. The enormous amount of material which went into one of those broadcasts would no longer be manageable today. Most of these programs were live shows, furthered by well-paying sponsors who, on the other hand, demanded jazz groups, big bands and comedy stars with a certain popular appeal. As a result, there were numerous shows with Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Harry James or Woody Herman.

Woody’s ”Wildroot-Show” for example, was financed by the shampoo manufacturer. The AFRS-Jubilees were recorded on electrical-transcriptions and broadcast a short time later. We can thank the German jazz scholar and discographer Dr. Rainer E. Lotz that all of the 433 (!) Jubilee programs were catalogued in a discography. The information on our CDs is based on his work.

In 1942, the former radio and Broadway show producer Major Mann Holiner came up with an idea for the Jubilee programs in which white and black music would be played, balanced with some vaudeville talent. The debut broadcast was on October 9, 1942 under the direction of Major Charles Vanda, a former CBS producer. After the first five programs, the show moved from New York City to Los Angeles, where Major Holiner was joined in his responsibility for the productions by Ernie ”Bubbles” Whitman, as the regular Master of Ceremonies.

Originally, the Jubilees were one-hour programs performed in front of an audience, usually early on Monday evenings. Occasionally there would be two complete shows of thirty minutes each on one evening. Eventually, these thirty-minute performances were adopted because of technical reasons. The recordings were made at the NBC, ABC or CBS radio stations and at the C. P. MacGregor, Radio Recorders or Universal Recorders studios. In mid-1943, the AFRS-Jubilee program was broadcast on short wave to both the west and east coasts as well as to Europe. At the end of the war, in the first few weeks of 1946, AFRS activities were gradually discontinued. Ernie ”Bubbles” Whitman left the institution and the Jubilee program took on another form, dominated primarily by white artists. In May of 1949, the production of V-Discs, for which the AFRS was also responsible, ceased (see RST 91565-2 ”The Combos”, RST 91566-2 ”The Big Bands” and RST 91567-2 ”The Girls”). In late fall of the same year, most of the AFRS-Live Shows came to an end (”Jill’s Juke Box”, ”Command Performance”). The last Jubilee show was recorded and broadcast in August of 1953, with pianist Joe ”Fingers” Carr and the Ted Vesely Dixieland Group performing alongside the AFRS-Jubilee orchestra, which for sometime already, had replaced the alternating Star big bands.

In the ensuing decades, a wealth of Jubilee selections have come out on LPs. The American label ”Joyce”, in particular, has released a large quantitiy of AFRS material, though mostly in the form of specific titles. Now, RST-Records has taken on the task of producing complete Jubilee show, chosen at random, two per CD.

RST-Records does not want to proceed chronologically but rather intend to position the programs musically, one against another. Moreover, the label only have a limited number of original programs at its disposal. In any case, you, the jazz fans and CD collectors, should be given the opportunity to hear uncut Jubilee shows, including their so-called ”comedy skits” and all of the announcements. As far as possible, the original transcriptions or cuts from the programs have been technically improved although, essentially, the initial sound was kept in order to preserve the historic character of these equally important music history and war-political documentations (Klaus Schulz).

AFRS-CDs

RST BSIN01028501
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 1 (No. 104 & 145)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 104 & 145 feat. Lionel Hampton, Les Paul, The Town Criers, Dinah Washington, Fletcher Henderson, Valaida Snow, The Gingersnaps, Eddie Green, Ernie Whitman. Recorded on February 24, 1945 & August 27, 1945.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment p... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01028778
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 2 (No. 116 & 191)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 116 & 191 feat. Lucky Millinder, Slim Gaillard Trio, M. Morland, B. Carter, E. Whitman, Benny Carter, The Eddie Beal Quartet, Herb Jeffries. Recorded on May 19, 1945 & July, 1945.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01029055
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 3 (No. 139 & 168)
Composer: x

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 104 & 145 feat. Jimmie Lunceford, Alvino Rey, E. Whitman, E. Green, L. Randolph, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Joe Liggins, Art Tatum, Lena Horne, Slam & Bam. Recorded on June 25, 1945 & July 1945.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs d... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01029332
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 4 (No. 60 & 77)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 60 & 77 feat Cee Pee Johnson, The Charioteers, Maurice Rocco, Ivie Anderson, Bing Crosby, Ernie Whitman, Bing Crosby & The Charioteers, Fletcher Henderson, Lena Horne, Eddie Green. Jimmy Baskette. Recorded in December 1943 & May 1, 1944.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agen... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01029609
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 5 (No. 291 & 271)
Composer: x

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 291 & 271 feat The Just Jazz Allstars, Jack Teagarden, Woody Herman & The Allstars, Joey Preston, Jesse Price, Kay Starr, Pete Johnson, The Benny Goodman Quintet. Recorded on September 17, 1948 & April or May 1948.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced enter... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01029886
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 6 (No. 45 & 151)
Composer: x

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 45 & 151 feat. Erskine Hawkins, The Spirits Of Rhythm, Nat King Cole Trio, Lena Horne, The Jungleers, The Oscar Pettiford Trio, Harry "The Hipster" Gibson, Slim & Bam, Lena Horne, Harold M. Kingsley, Lena Horne with AFRS Fivesome. Recorded on October 4, 1943 & October 8, 1945.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Maj... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01030163
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 7 (No. 169 & 81)

This item is currently not available!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 169 & 81 feat. Boyd Raeburn, Dodo Marmarosa, Ray Linn And His Jazz Octet, Count Basie, Louis Jordan And His Tympani Five, Mabel Scott, The Lorenzo Flennoy Trio, Ernie Whitman, H. "Nicodemus" Stewart.
Recorded in February 1946 & May 22 or 29, 1944.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World... more

Price: 9,90 EUR

RST BSIN01030440
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 8 (No. 225 & 211)

2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 225 & 211 feat. Jack McVea All Stars, Joey Preston, Jack Teagarden, Andy Kirk, Eddie Heywood And His Sextet, Helen Humes. Recorded in March 1947 & May 1945. Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government of the United States, for the U.S. soldiers and military employees.

Price: 9,90 EUR

RST BSIN01030717
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 9 (No. 95 & 56)

2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 95 & 56 feat. The Armed Forces Radio Service Band, Illinois Jacquet, The Loumell Morgan Trio, Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers, Maxine Sullivan, Noble Sissle And His Orchestra, Barney Bigard, Phil Moore, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Recorded on September 4, 1944 & December 13, 1943. Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government... more

Price: 9,90 EUR

RST BSIN01030994
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 10 (No. 137 & 93)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 137 & 93 feat. Jimmie Lunceford, Joe Liggins And His Honeydrippers, The Andre Previn Trio, Garry Moore, Ernie Whitman, Count Basie, Tiny Bradshaw, The Loumell Morgan Trio, June Richmond, Day, Dawn And Dark, Mantan Moreland, Benny Carter. Recorded on June 11, 1945 & August 21, 1944.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the America... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01031271
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 11 (No. 163 & 162)

2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 163 & 162 feat. Boyd Raeburn And His Orchester, Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy Gillespie And His Rebop Six, Jimmy Mundy And His Allstars, Kay Starr, Sugar Chile Robinson & Harry Gibson. Recorded on December 17, 1945 & December 10, 1945. Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government of the United States, for the U.S. soldiers and... more

Price: 9,90 EUR

RST BSIN01031548
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 12 (No. 136 & 61)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 136 & 61 feat. Benny Carter And His Orchestra, The Four Blazes, Eddie Green, Ernie Whitman, Helen Humes, Cee Pee Johnson And His Orchestra, The Delta Rhythm Boys, Timmie Rogers, Johnny Mercer, Johnny Mercer & The Delta Rhythm Boys. Recorded on June 4, 1945 & January 17, 1944.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Majo... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01031825
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 13 (No. 98 & 351)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 NUR – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 98 & 351 feat. Count Basie And His Orchestra, Butterfly McQueen & Ernie Whitman, Artie Shaw, Kid Ory & His Creole Dixieland Band. Recorded on September 25, 1944 & November 12, 1949.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the ... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01032102
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 14 (No. 358 & 107)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 358 & 107 feat. Count Basie And His Orchestra, Kid Ory & His Creole Dixieland Band, Kid Ory - Alan Jeffrey, Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra, The Eddie South Trio, Leadbelly, Eddie Green. Recorded on December 31, 1949 & November 6, 1944.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agenc... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01032379
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 15 (No. 109 & 166)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 109 & 166 feat. Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra, J. Benny, R. Anderson, E. Whitman, Jack Benny, The Loumell Morgan Trio, Benny Goodman And His Orchestra, Lena Horne, The Gene Krupa Trio, The Benny Goodman Quintet, Joey Preston. Recorded on November 20, 1944 & January 1946.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01032656
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 16 (No. 365 & 363)

Our Special offer until January 31, 2020 – only EUR 4,90
(regular price: EUR 9,90)!
2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 365 & 363 feat. Count Basie And His Orchestra, Georgie Auld And His Orchestra, Billy Eckstine. Recorded in January 1949 & January 23, 1949.
Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government o... more

Price: 4,90 EUR

RST BSIN01032933
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 17 (No. 347 & 350)

2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 347 & 350 feat. Count Basie And His Orchestra, Louis Armstrong And His All Stars, Earl Hines, Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five. Recorded on October 15, 1949 & November 5, 1949. Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government of the United States, for the U.S. soldiers and military employees.

Price: 12,90 EUR

RST BSIN01033210
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 18 (No. 213 & 106)

2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 213 & 106 feat. Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra, Joe Liggins And His Honeydrippers, The Andre Previn, Garry Moore, The AFRS Orchestra, Earl Hines And His Orchestra, Slim Gaillard, The Loumell Morgan Trio, The Town Criers. Recorded in June 1945 & October 30, 1944. Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government of the Un... more

Price: 12,90 EUR

RST BSIN01033487
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 19 (No. 134 & 171)

2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 134 & 171 feat. Andy Kirk And His Orchestra, Eddie Heywood And His Sextet, Helen Humes, Jimmy Mundy And His Orchestra, Erroll Garner, The Robert Maxwell Jazz Quartet, The Nat King Cole Trio, The Slim Gaillard Trio. Recorded on May 21, 1945 & January / February 1946. Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government of the Un... more

Price: 12,90 EUR

RST BSIN01033764
Various Artists - The Best Of AFRS Jubilee, Vol. 20 (No. 302 & 309)

2 complete AFRS Jubilies No. 302 & 309 feat. Count Basie And His Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, Stan Kenton Orchestra, Gene Krupa And His Orchestra. Recorded in December 1948 & November 1948. Armed Forces Radio Service, a creation of the American Major Thomas Lewis, was the name of an agency which produced entertainment programs during the Second World War, by order of the government of the United States, for the U.S. soldiers and military employees.

Price: 12,90 EUR

Subject to alteration of prices!

Please call us for further informations.

Dieter Bock

BOCK'S MUSIC SHOP

AFRS Jubilee Records

AFRS-CDs