Latest Episodes from Phantom Dancer

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 21st May 2019

The Phantom Dancer feature artist with Greg Poppleton this week is big band singer and movie star, Doris Day. In this week's non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s - 1960s radio and TV, you'll hear Doris Day in 1939 on Ohio radio and later in the 1940s as the star singer with international favourite Les Brown and his Band of Renown. Read her story, see a video of a radio interview with Doris Day and Lucille Ball, read the full mix play list here. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 14th May 2019

This week's Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton features a 1950s radio broadcast and commercial release by a significant figure in the British rhythm and blues and 'beat boom' of the 1960s, trad jazz trombonist and band leader, Chris Barber. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 7th May 2019

This week's non-stop Phantom Dancer swing jazz mix with Greg Poppleton has a featured jazz style rather than a featured artist this week - Trad Jazz. See the play list, read the story, hear the live PD mix (online after 7 May), and see a 1980s Bob Barnard TV video right here and now. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 30th Apr 2019

See, hear and read all about wood veneer 1930s fax machines. Yes, you'll even hear one pump and wheeze on The Phantom Dancer radio show with Greg Poppleton. Plus a whole hour of non-stop swing from 1930s radio broadcasts. Find out more Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 23rd Apr 2019

Illegitimate daughter of a Buddhist nun, almost sold to a brothel as a child, this week's Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton feature artist is Zhou Xuan, China's most popular singer in the 1940s. You'll hear 3 of her records from 1944 - 46 incorporating Latin rhythms, Western opera and jazz dance music into traditional Chinese forms. There's even a snatch of Mrs Hills' 1936 'Happy Birthday to You'. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 16th Apr 2019

Barbara James Australian radio swing and jazz singer from the 1930s-60s features in this week's Phantom Dancer. Also in the mix, 1939 Frank Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey's arranger Matt Denis, Charlie Parker and singer Loyce Whiteman all from live vintage radio. Happy Listening! Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 2nd Apr 2019

Xavier Cugat, 'King of the Rhumba', a leading figure in the spread of Latin music, is your feature artist on this week's Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton. Read his story, see video, listen to the radio show online from 26 March here. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 26th Mar 2019

Two curiosities on this week's Phantom Dancer. The first is 1940s Sydney Dance Band leader, and later TV producer, George Trevare. Read his story, hear his swinging small group playing Waltzing Matilda in 1945, listen to the radio show online from 26 March here. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 19th Mar 2019

This Tuesday I'm thrilled to find for you on The Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton, a 1942 all-woman jazz show I played on the Phantom Dancer over ten years ago. The tape has re-surfaced. This week enjoy the Victory Belles as your Phantom Dancer featured artists. Read the Victory Belles story, see photos, read the play list and hear the radio show here. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 12th Mar 2019

They were some of the biggest stars in the business from the 1940s onwards. They are this week's Phantom Dancer feature artists with Greg Poppleton - Jo Stafford, Georgia Gibbs and Dinah Shore. Read three unusual facts about these singers, see a 1960 Dinah TV show, see the Phantom Dancer play list and listen to the show here. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 5th Mar 2019

Kid Ory was an influential figure in early jazz and 'inventor' of the tailgate trombone. He's this week's Phantom Dancer feature artist with 1920s-30s singer Greg Poppleton - swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio. Hear Kid Ory on live 1949-55 radio, read his story, see his video and see The Phantom Dancer playlist here. Read More