History
Johnny Long Orchestra
Johnny Long (September 12, 1914 – October 31, 1972) was an American violinist and bandleader.
Raised on a farm in Newell, North Carolina, Long began playing the violin at age six. An injury to two fingers on his left hand, sustained from a pig bite, led him to adapt and play using his right hand, a technique he continued throughout his career.
Early Career and Rise to Prominence
While a freshman at Duke University, Long formed a school band with ten other students, initially called The Duke Collegians. The group became the official university band during their sophomore year. Upon graduation, they renamed themselves The Johnny Long Orchestra, with Long at the helm.
The orchestra toured nationally for several years before signing with Vocalion Records in 1937. Their first national radio broadcast on The Fitch Summer Bandwagon Show in 1939 significantly boosted their popularity, leading to a contract with Decca Records.
Under Decca, the Johnny Long Orchestra accompanied Ella Fitzgerald on her recording of "Confessin' That I Love You." Long also penned and released the hit single "In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town," which sold over a million copies and became the band's signature song. This success, along with other popular recordings like "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time" and "Poor Butterfly," established the orchestra as one of the leading big bands of the 1940s. A career highlight was performing at Franklin D. Roosevelt's Birthday Ball in April 1941.
Later Years and Legacy
As the popularity of big bands waned, so did the prominence of Long's ensemble. Nevertheless, Long continued to lead the orchestra with various musicians until his death in 1972. He is buried in the cemetery of Newell Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Film Appearances
Johnny Long and his band also had a brief career in film. They made their debut in the Abbott & Costello comedy Hit the Ice, with Long playing a romantic lead opposite Ginny Simms. Later that year, Long had his final major film role in Follies Girl.
