Never Been Blue 1922-42

In 1919, the shellac had barely dried on the earliest recorded jazz, when, at 18, Ted FioRito entered the studio, as pianist, with some of the biggest names in music. These included Earl Oliver, Tom Brown, Rudy Wiedoeft, Alcide Nunez, Joe Green and, his brother, George Hamilton Green. Within a year later, in 1920, young FioRito’s name began to circulate as an up-and-coming composer, with works recorded by the popular bands of Art Hickman and Harry Yerkes. Still not old enough to vote, in September of 1922, FioRito achieved songwriting acclaim when Al Jolson recorded one of the great anthems of the 1920s, “Toot Toot Tootsie, Goo’bye.” It was during this same year that Ted FioRito became co-leader of his first band. Over the years, there have been many fine, musicians, composers and bandleaders, but seldom have all three been embodied in the person of one man as fully as they were in Ted FioRito. Throughout his long, musical career, Ted FioRito remained the “complete” artist, performing, composing and leading a band that became one of the most recognized on radio and film. (Excerpt from liner notes by Jeff Hopkins, 2002)