Merle Johnston & His Orchestra - Ich liebe dich

Although poorly known today, saxophonist, band leader and teacher (in New York and in Los Angeles) Merle Johnston was very popular on radio in the 1920s performing as a soloist, with his quartet, with his dance band and with his concert orchestra. In addition, in the 1930s he wrote a column in Metronome magazine in which he provided information and answered technical questions about playing the instrument. He also devised a saxophone mouthpiece, the Johnston-Selmer mouthpiece, Model 36. Merle Johnston recorded four sides with his Saxophone Quartet in July 1929 and in October 1930. He also recorded about two dozen sides as Merle Johnston and His Orchestra and as Merle Johnston and His Ceco Couriers. He had several talented musicians in his bands Leo McConville, Manny Klein, Tommy Dorsey, Pete Pumiglio, Tony Colucci, Hank Stern and Vic Berton are some. Among his vocalists were Smith Ballew, Scrappy Lambert and Chick Bullock. Merle Johnston recorded as a side man with Ben Selvin and Sam Lanin. This lovely record was made in 1929; vocal by Scrappy Lambert.