Biography
Why an individual gets nicknamed "Fidgy" is an uncomfortable subject at best; when the guy's first name is Fulton, perhaps desperation enters into the picture. Fulton McGrath is one of the historic jazz artists who came in out of the fudgesicle-like tundra of the midwest kingdom of Wiscoldo; by the mid '40s, the later part of his career, he had left all such climates behind and was well established as part of the studio recording scene for film soundtracks in Hollywood. As such he fiogured into a small family dynasty getting studio calls; pianist McGrath was the father-in-law of Victor Feldman, another in-demand studio player who mastered an assortment of keyboard and percussion instruments. Speaking of offspring, McGrath as songwriter gave birth to Mandy is Two, a bit of kitsch which only Billie Holiday could make sound convincing, as well as Shim Sham Shimmy, a novelty jive number associated with the Dorsey Brothers and trumpeter Bunny Berigan.

McGrath's professional career began in the rhythm section of the Red Nichols band in the early '30s. He soon began playing with brothers Dorsey and got in on studio sessions for both recordings and radio broadcasts. Between 1935 and 1937 McGrath worked often in a studio orchestra under the direction of the talented Lennie Hayton. The following year the pianist was in bands led by both Berigan and Chauncey Morehouse; subsequent to that he stood solidly in the NBC house band before heading west circa 1943. Quite a bit of documentation exists of his work as a band pianist including sides with Nichols and the Dorsey Brothers as well as the fine swing violinist Joe Venuti. In most cases, reissue producers have chosen to identify him as Fulton McGrath, fudging on Fidgy. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi




 
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Annette Hanshaw - Say it isn`t so (1932).wmv
"Charlie's Home" Adrian Rollini and His Orchestra 1933
"Sittin' On A Log" (Pettin' My Dog) Adrian Rollini and His Orchestra 1933
Oh! Peter - Red Nichols & His Five Pennies (1931)
The Dorsey Brothers Orch._" Mood Hollywood " (1933)
Harlem Lullaby / Mildred Bailey
The Boswell Sisters - Sleep, come on and take me (1932)
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