Bucks
Vincent Lopez
Dear Friends,
Good morning. How many of you faithful readers can hum a few bars from the hit song “Nola?” My parents had several 78-rpm records with that famous tune…recorded in the 1940’s.
Several weeks ago at the Rite Aid in Quakertown, a reader introduced himself as “Vincent Lopez.” That name struck a bell because I remembered the Vincent Lopez Orchestra from the days of World War II and the 1950’s. It turned out that the Vincent Lopez that I met is the son of the famous bandleader. “Vinnie” (his family nickname) and his wife Kaye have lived in Richland Township since 1996.
My visit with Vincent Lopez, Jr. was a fascinating trip down memory lane.
Fortunately, many big band orchestras of a generation ago are alive and well. Lopez told me that Les Brown, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Sammy Kaye, Gene Krupa, and Glenn Miller are a few of the bands which continue to play on. Family members like Lopez Jr. or players bought the names, arrangements and music from various estates. That’s how young Lopez continues his father’s tradition.
Recently, the Vincent Lopez orchestra played at Richland Township’s Community Days. Most of the ensemble comes from Philadelphia and New Jersey…although one of the players lives nearby. Many of you readers have heard Mark Hasson play solos with the Quakertown Band. He’s also a member of the Vincent Lopez Orchestra. The group is composed of three trumpets; two trombones, four saxophones, three on percussion, a female singer, plus Lopez, Jr. (on the trombone).
“I’m the weakest link in the orchestra,” he laughed. “I surround myself with good people.”
He told me that they’ll be playing at the Sunnybrook Ball Room in Pottstown now that it’s reopened. “There’s a portion of the Sunnybrook back stage wall still standing,” Lopez says. “It has the names of the players with the dates that those bands played there, years ago.
He showed me a 1939 photo of his father’s orchestra in Atlantic City. Several of them were seated on a float bobbing in the surf at the Steel Pier. Lopez is proud of the Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque, which was awarded to his father in 1960.
Young Lopez talked about his father who died at age 90 in 1975. Spanning five decades, the Lopez orchestra began in the 1920’s at the Hotel Taft, near Times Square. Senior Lopez played piano and added violins plus brass to form his orchestra. Forty-five years later, the big bands were gone, victims of music producers who booked small, less expensive combos.
“The problem is [that] our audience is dying,” Lopez told me good-humouredly. “But we still have musicians.” (I wasn’t rolling in laughter, however…I’m part of the generation that’s dying!)
“That’s why we say, ‘Last working musician, turn out the light when you leave,’” he smiled.
Lopez recounted the story about his father’s theme song, “Nola.” “Felix Arnett wrote the music,” Lopez continued. “Arnett’s song was inspired by his engagement to a beauty named Nola.” Alas, Arnetti’s partner ran off with Nola. Several years ago, Lopez Jr. ran into Arnett.
“You haven’t changed a bit,” he said to the aging musician.
“It’s the gin,” Arnetti replied!
“The words were added later by Sonny Skyler, a vocalist with dad’s orchestra,” Lopez Jr. continued. “Skyler’s 95 today.” Young Lopez added that Skyler liked gin. “There’s a lot to be said about gin,” Lopez laughed. “That’s how he [Skyler] got to be so old!”
Lopez resurrected the orchestra in 1979, four years after his father’s passing. Jan Eberle, the daughter of Ray Eberle (another big band), sang with Lopez’ new ensemble for three years.
I enjoyed his story about the Battle of the Bands in Atlantic City (circa 1982). Six famous bands were competing over a three-day period. Lopez listed them: Tommy Dorsey, Ray Anthony, Tex Beneke, Count Basie, Bob Crosby (brother of Bing), and Lopez. No prizes were given…every orchestra was a winner.
Lopez has fond memories of Fred Lowrey, the blind whistler who played for his father…and Frank Munn, the vocalist who made “Love is Like a Cigarette” famous. “The song would be taboo today,” Lopez added. “In the old days, everyone smoked. Today no one in the orchestra smokes.”
The Lopez family hails from Philadelphia. When he’s not performing, Lopez manages commercial properties.
It was difficult to concentrate during my interview with him. Although Lopez sports a moustache and goatee, he’s the spitting image of his father. While his father’s recordings were playing in the background, I could hardly sit still.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith
P.S. If you want more information about the Vincent Lopez
new orchestra, call young Lopez at
A link to a website with information about Vincent Lopez: http://www.bigbandlibrary.com/vincentlopez.html