National Orchestra Service
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The National Orchestra Service, Inc. (NOS), was the most important booking and management agency for territory bands across the Great Plains and other regions from the early 1930s through 1960.[1] NOS managed black, white and integrated orchestras and was headquartered in Omaha.
National Orchestra Service specialized in booking ballroom dance orchestras known as territory bands. The company's reputation as the premier booking agent in that genre helped them dominate their industry for almost 20 years. Bands that NOS represented were typically smaller than the Glenn Miller-type orchestras, usually featuring about 12 pieces, sometimes 15; though ensemble sizes tended to wax and wane with the economy. NOS handled bookings in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and military bases.
February 1930 — National Orchestra Service was founded in Omaha.[2] Serl Frank Hutton was its founder and sole proprietor until 1952, when Lee Williams joined as a partner.
By way of merger with Music Management Service in January 1954, Royce Stoenner and David Wenrich, who formed Music Management Service, joined NOS as salaried employees.[3][4] In September 1959, Royce Stoenner left the NOS agency to join as a 50% partner with the Dave Brumitt Agency, a territory band booking agency in Atlanta.
In 1939, the NOS headquarters at located at 709 World-Herald Building, Omaha, NE.[notes 1] Later, NOS moved to the eleventh floor — the top floor — of the Omaha National Bank Building in Downtown Omaha. The top floor was actually the sixteenth and the address was 1611 City National Bank Bldg.[5]
In August 1943, Lee Williams was the only band working for National Orchestra Service due to war rationing (gasoline, tires, and the like) and shortage of musicians (the draft).[6]
In February 1960, National Orchestra Service, Inc., folded.[7]
Many territory bands from NOS traveled in sleeper trailers connected to tractor-trailer trucks. The most popular sleeper was manufactured by Wilson Trailer Company in Sioux City, IA. They were purchased, owned, and maintained by the orchestras. Lawrence Welk is thought to have been the first to design and use a sleeper.[8]
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Verne Byers | Herbert Daly Phillips played with this band in the early 1950s |
| "Chan" Chandler and His Orchestra |
According to Royce Stoenner, Chandler had the best band ever at NOS and was one of the reasons he was lured to work for NOS.[notes 2] Former musicians: David F. Barnett (1926–2009); Marjorie King, singer. Chandler, a saxophonist, was known in some quarters as "America's most handsome orchestra leader." Before NOS, Chandler's orchestra had been managed and booked by McConkey Orchestra Company.[9] |
| Jerry Mosher | [10] |
| Preston H. Love | NOS became the booking agent for Preston Love in January 1954 by way of merger with Music Management Service, a booking agency founded by Royce Stoenner and David Wenrich.[11] |
| Del Clayton | Musicians: Harry Bernard Risvold, drummer (1932–2001) — traveled with Clayton for 3 years; Glenna Fraser, singer; John Walter Nelson, Jr., drummer (1930—2006) |
| Wayne Chapman | Chapman was an organist who once played with Lee Williams |
| John Paul Jones Orchestra |
|
| Al Hudson | Hudson was a trumpet player who once played with Lee Williams. His band, essentially, was the former Lee Williams orchestra. |
| Red Perkins & His Dixie Ramblers |
|
| Larry Elliott | |
| Carl Colby | |
| Klif Riggs | |
| Lee Williams | (né William Brammer Leacox; 1918–1995) Several new bands were launched by Lee Williams. While touring for a half year, he would book the next half, then sell the band and take time off. In 1952, he became a partner with National Orchestra Service (see comments below, under "Principals, employees"). |
| Mickey Bride | The Little Man With a Big Band. Bride was a drummer who once played with Lee Williams |
| Oklahoma City Blue Devils | NOS launched the Blue Devils[12] on a tour of the Northern Territories in 1930.[13] |
| Nat Towles and his Quintet |
Towels, an African American, played trumpet. His band was one of the best territory bands managed by NOS. Many well-known musicians are alumni of Towels' band. |
| Sammy Stevens | Stevens was a drummer |
| Little John Beecher | Beecher, a trumpeter and valve trombonist who once played with Lee Williams, became a singer of novelty songs, leading his own band called "Little John Beecher and his Orchestra" throughout the 1950s. The band finished 1959 using NOS as its booking agent. When Royce Stoenner left NOS and moved to Georgia, Beecher followed and started working there through his agency. Beecher donated his music library to Auburn University before his death. |
| Jimmy Thomas | |
| Tommy Allan | An excellent band, Allen played trumpet |
| Leo Peiper | This band was likely not with NOS (reviewing - Oct 2009) This band was with the McConkey Music Corporation in July 1947.[14] Former musicians: Lauren Brown, trombone (1915–1994) |
| Jack Russell and His Sweet Rhythmic Orchestra |
Roy Turk wrote the words and Fred E. Ahlert wrote the music to Into My Heart, which became the theme song for the Jack Russell's Orchestra.[15] |
| Billy Thompson and His Melody Cowboys |
Not sure whether this band was with NOS (reviewing - Oct 2009) |
| Tillie Newell and His Orchestra |
Not sure whether this band was with NOS (reviewing - Oct 2009) |
| Walter J. Martie | (b. 1923; d. 1994) Not sure whether this band was with NOS (reviewing - Oct 2009) Former musicians include Art Delaney, Gordon Boore (drummer), and Delores Morgan (singer; née Dolores Helen Morgan; b. 1923; d. 2009). Delores married Walter in the 1940s. |
| Earl Gardner and His Orchestra |
The Band With a Million Friends |
| Bob Calame and his Music |
Robert Marvin Calame (15 Jan 1911 Grand Island, Nebraska – 3 Sep 1967 Omaha, Nebraska) wrote the music for Lawrence Welk's theme song, "Bubbles in the Wine." Calame's band played a sweet style, similar to Lawrence Welk. His daughter lives in Omaha.[5] |
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