Melody Kings Dance Orchestra<br /><br />"Hi-Lee Hi-Lo"<br /><br />FULL TITLE: "Hi Lee, Hi Lo (Chop Suey a la Fox-ee Trot-ee)"<br /><br />1923<br /><br />Song by Ira Schuster & Eugene West<br /><br />The Melody King's Dance Orchestra (or Melody Kings--an apostrophe is on labels more often than not) was an ensemble whose membership varied between 5 and 9 players. <br /><br />Players included pianist Billy Munro, drummer Rob Roy, trombonist Al Gagnon, trumpeters Harry Louci, Rip Doucette and Robert Rochon, and saxophonists Léo Dufault and Alex Lajoie. <br /><br />In 1923, two Tipaldi brothers (John and Andy) became managers of an ensemble which they renamed the Melody King's Dance Orchestra. The new band played in Montréal. <br /><br />The Melody Kings recorded a few dozen titles in 1923 and 1924 for Montréal's His Master's Voice.<br /><br />The banjo player is Andy Tipaldi.<br /><br />The violinist is John Tipaldi, and he wrote the ensemble’s arrangements. <br /><br />We are hearing Canada jazz Montréal style.
