[Dixielandjazz] Morer on Pete Smythe and Jim Hawthorne

[G. William Oakley]

This from Hawthorne in print regarding his big band debut with Pete Smythe.


That current TV commercial hustling ice cream bars -- you know, where they
ask a man to sing I'm A Little Teapot -- well, that ad reminds me of my
first, only and final appearance as a "singer" with a big-band.
    During my Mile High City fledgling years in radio, my on-air partner on
a daily afternoon deejay show was a gentle man by the name of Pete Smythe.
Pete was also the leader of a well-known dance orchestra in the Denver area.
Evenings, his band played at a swank Denver hotel ballroom. EAGER BEAVER...
As we are sometimes prone to do in our learning years, I was anxious to be a
part of everything. One momentous day, Pete asked me if I'd like to sing a
novelty number with his band. I had never had any training in singing,
however, I enthusiastically said "yes" to his invitation. That night I went
to the hotel for my grand vocal debut. At that time, the current big hit
novelty song on the radio was the very same I'm a Little Teapot. The song
had a big-band arrangement, but a singer (with the band) had not yet been
named. The job was mine, if I "clicked." The drummer usually sang the "funny
stuff." I sat in front of the musicians, just like Frank Sinatra sat in
front of the Tommy Dorsey band. I was self-consciously dressed in a tuxedo,
clutching little cards with the words to the song, waiting for my
introduction. HERE HE IS...
    When it came time for me to sing, I was introduced and I stood up with
lyrics in hand, waiting for a cue from Pete. My long awaited debut was at
hand. I was launching upon a new career - a novelty band singer. Pete even
choreographed a little dance, much like the one the guy performs in the TV
spot. Within 10 seconds after I began "singing" I noticed the dance crowd
slowly shuffling toward their tables, some covering their ears. Within a
minute, I was standing alone in front of the band, "singing" to an empty
dance floor. The reason was simple, I had no idea of how to control my
voice, so I just sang as loud as I could. I figured sheer volume would do
the trick.
    I finished my "song" with the band breaking up with laughter, the
audience scowling and the perplexed manager of the ballroom huddling with
Pete. As I left the bandstand, the musicians gave me a courteous,
professional round of applause - a simple gesture to a fellow performer, I
figured. The drummer winked at me, sending that well-know acknowledgement of
a "job well done." He seemed the happiest of them all.
    Smythe, the next day, reluctantly related to me what the manager had
told him: "If that awful Hawthorne ever sings here again, I'll fire you and
the band." It really wasn't necessary for Pete to tell me, I KNEW I was not
destined to be a band singer after that fiasco. It was then that I decided
to concentrate on broadcasting as a career.
    Now, after all these years, some dumb TV commercial reminds me of the
most sensitive of my many youthful adventures. One thought has occurred to
me. I just wonder if the person who dreamed up that TV spot is maybe a
distant relative of one of the dancing couples who happened to witness my
"singing debut" that night in Denver. If so, I feel sure he/she was
inspired, subconsciously, perhaps, to re-create the monumental event on a TV
spot many years later. I hear the commercial is really working as the sale
of those chocolate-covered ice cream bars is at an all-time high. Without
doubt, a consequence of my unique performance with a big-band many years
earlier.

Hey, I want my royalties.

©1993 Jim Hawthorne