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Page Cavanaugh

His first steady work was in the territory band, the Ernie Williamson Orchestra, in the late nineteen thirties . During the Second World War stationed in Sacramento, California, , Cavanaugh was the replacement pianist for an Army trio called The Three Sergeants, and in that group made the acquaintance of Al Viola and Lloyd Pratt who would form a musical partnership after their military service was over. By the mid forties, now based in Los Angeles, the small unit called The Page Cavanaugh Trio began to get club work in the Southern California area. They patterned their musical style after the King Cole Trio and developed a unique vocal sound which consisted of soft voiced unison singing. Soon they were garnering great reviews and spreading popularity. They began recording for small West Coast labels and soon found a few musical spots in motion pictures. The first recordings by the three man unit were for the ARA label. These include "Air Mail Special" / "Saipan", and "Fish And Chips" and "After You've Gone". Following were sides recorded for the Encore label - "Crazy Rhythm" / "Too Soon", "Don't Blame Me" / "When The Gooses Come Back To Massachusetts", and "Jump Easy" / "You Go To My Head". Mastertone Records followed with "Autumn In New York" and the first recording of "The Three Bears", and a remake of "Saipan" and "Vine Street Hayride". Chicago based independent Signature Records was the next source featuring "Body And Soul" and "Blue Moon", and "I'll Remember April" and "The Man I Love" . After these independent records the Page Cavanaugh Trio hit the big time with a recording contract with RCA Victor records. It was with this major label that the trio had their greatest success on record. "All Of Me" and a remake of "The Three Bears" was released on RCA. "Bears" was a good seller for the group and gave them name recognition especially on the West Coast. Johnny Desmond sang with the trio on "I'll Close My Eyes" and "Guilty", and Jane Harvey did the vocal honors on "Foggy River" and "My Number One Dream Came True". "Heartbreakin" and "Walking My Baby Back Home" followed, as did "Love's Got Me In A Lazy Mood" on. In addition to the recordings, they had an admirer of their work in Frank Sinatra. They did a number of appearances on the radio show Songs By Sinatra on the CBS radio network during late 1946 and early 1947. They even backed up Sinatra on "That's How Much I Love You" and "I Got A gal I Love" on Columbia. In addition the trio was a featured act on the Jack Paar Show for NBC radio in 1947. It was also at this time that the Page Cavanaugh Trio backed another top vocalist, Mel Torme. They recorded a number of songs for MacGregor Transcriptions with Torme which later showed up on CDs for Glendale. Some of these collaborations were released for the Musicraft Records label in the late forties. They included "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" / "Three Little Words" on Musicraft, "Love Is A Funny Thing" / "I'll Always Be In Love With You", "The Day You Came Along" on # 530, and the 15000 series for Musicraft - "And Mimi", "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve", and "Magic Town" / "The Best Things In Life Are Free". In the late 1940s the trio also found themselves doing work in motion pictures. First was Record Party a Name Band Musical short, then in 1948 came Big City and A Song Is Born with Page doing a dramatic turn, and then "Jingle Jangle Jingle" and most importantly, Romance On The High Seas which starred Doris Day in her first leading role. Besides the many club dates in Los Angeles and vicinity, the trio headed East for a big appearance at the Strand Theater in New York with Sarah Vaughn. They recorded "Anything For You" and "Ok'l Baby Dok'l", "Daisies Don't Tell" and "We're From Afar" for RCA, "I Would Do Anything For You" and "I Want A Little Girl", "No Moon At All" and "You Say The Nicest Things", and "Bianca" and "Always True To You In My Fashion".

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Obituary

Page Cavanaugh Pianist-Singer Led Southland Jazz Trio Dies

Page Cavanaugh Pianist-Singer Led Southland Jazz Trio Dies

Source: Michael Ricci

Page Cavanaugh, a veteran pianist-singer whose trio was a popular nightclub and recording group in the late 1940s and '50s and who became one of Southern California's most enduring lounge jazz artists, has died. He was 86.

Cavanaugh, who also was a composer and arranger during his more than 60-year career, died Friday morning of kidney failure at a skilled nursing facility in Granada Hills, said Phil Mallory, Cavanaugh's bass player for 18 years. During the early days with his ...

90

Performance / Tour

Page Cavanaugh Returns to Chaya Jazz

Page Cavanaugh Returns to Chaya Jazz

Source: All About Jazz

Page Cavanaugh makes his second appearance at Chaya Brasserie, 8741 Alden Dr., Beverly Hills, Ca. Page packed the house in his last appearance, and is returning with his outstanding trio consisting of Phil Mallory, bass, and Dave Toll, drums, on Sunday, Sept. 1, Labor Day weekend from 7 to 10:30. Guest vocalist will be Mark Miller. Chaya Jazz is nearing its one year anniversary. Along with Page, guests artists have included Dini Clarke, Betty Bryant, Jane Getz, Ralph Penland, to ...

99

Performance / Tour

Chaya Jazz Continues, Page Cavanaugh to Appear July 7th

Chaya Jazz Continues, Page Cavanaugh to Appear July 7th

Source: All About Jazz

Vocalist Mark Miller continues to book and appear in the Sunday night Chaya Jazz series at Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills at 8741 Alden Drive. His trio consists of Joyce Collins on piano, Bob Maize on bass, and Jack Le Compte on drums. The first Sunday of each month, Miller books in guest artists. Coming July 7th is the Page Cavanaugh Trio.

Since last September, Miller has presented pianists Jane Getz, harmonica player Ron Kalina; bassists Chuck Berghofer, ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

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