Jack Staulcup Orchestra
The Jack Staulcup Orchestra was a Midwestern territory band that was operated out of Paducah, Kentucky by Jack Staulcup. Formation The origins of the orchestra, began when Jack Staulcup,(November 7, 1907 – May 11, 1985), became a saxophonist/clarinetist during his teenage years in rural northwest Tennessee. After playing with various small Dixieland groups, Staulcup formed his own band in 1929. The music performed was in the big band genre popular in the 1920s-1940s timeframe. Besides playing the sax and clarinet, Staulcup often fronted the band with vocals. The size of the band, through the years varied from 9-12 members. This consisted of 3 saxes/clarinets, 2 trumpets, a trombone, piano, bass and drums. When additional members were carried, they were added to the sax or trumpet sections. The sound of the band, most closely resembled that of the more widely known Guy Lombardo and Jan Garber orchestras. 1929-1955 The first performance of the orchestra, was on New Year's Eve, 1929. in the ballroom atop the then new Irvin Cobb Hotel in Paducah. Throughout the 1930s and until the early 1950s, the orchestra traveled over a much larger territory than it did in succeeding decades. This area ranged from Chicago to Birmingham,