1996 - Big Band Leaders

Between 1993 thru 1999, the Postal Service issued various sheets of stamps honoring 'Legends of American Music'.  These included Rock and Roll (Remember voting for the young Elvis or the old Elvis?), Country Singers, Pop Singers, Blues & Jazz Singers, Jazz Musicians, Songwriters, Opera Singers, Conductors and Composers, Folk, Gospel, Hollywood composers, Broadway songwriters.  This page of stamps honored the Big Band Leaders.  In 1935 the success of Benny Goodman ushered in other Big Band leaders as Count Basie, Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller.  A 'Big Band' had at least 10 musicians w/ a sax, trumpet, trombone, and rhythm sections.  The parent genre was Jazz but since Big Bands played more as an accompaniment for dancing the emphsis was on written compositions/arrangements and less on improvisation.   Thus the band's leader played a bigger role than the soloists.   First day of issue was September 11, 1996 in New York, NY.  23 million stamps were printed.  Scott # 3096-99.