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Sy Oliver's melodic yet sophisticated arrangements helped define the <a href="spotify:artist:5z49AOW1q5dtslkcj6wGsW">Jimmy Lunceford</a> sound in the 1930s and modernized <a href="spotify:artist:4WoGga7UeRcmjD4ufif4nG">Tommy Dorsey</a>'s band in the '40s. A fine trumpeter (excellent with a mute) and a likable vocalist, Oliver made his recording debut with Zack Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels in the late '20s and also worked with Alphonse Trent. Joining <a href="spotify:artist:5z49AOW1q5dtslkcj6wGsW">Lunceford</a> in 1933, Oliver was responsible for such memorable charts as "My Blue Heaven," "Ain't She Sweet," "Organ Grinder's Swing," and "'Tain't What You Do," among many others. It was a major blow to <a href="spotify:artist:5z49AOW1q5dtslkcj6wGsW">Lunceford</a> when Oliver jumped at the chance to make a lot more money arranging and occasionally singing for <a href="spotify:artist:4WoGga7UeRcmjD4ufif4nG">Tommy Dorsey</a>. The hiring of Sy Oliver was a major help for <a href="spotify:artist:4WoGga7UeRcmjD4ufif4nG">T.D.</a> in getting <a href="spotify:artist:1pVtwG5Up1OZOEpSHJ4AAs">Buddy Rich</a> to join his band. Oliver's arrangement of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" was his biggest hit for <a href="spotify:artist:4WoGga7UeRcmjD4ufif4nG">Dorsey</a>. After a brief attempt at leading his own orchestra in 1946, Oliver became a freelance arranger and producer for the remainder of his long career. As late as 1975-1980, he was regularly leading a band but Sy Oliver will always be best known for his classic <a href="spotify:artist:5z49AOW1q5dtslkcj6wGsW">Lunceford</a> charts. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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