Benny Goodman (cl), Jess Stacey (p), Alan Ruess , Sid Weiss , Ray McKinley (dm). Recorded July 19th, 1943 From June 28 - August 7, 1943 the King of Swing, Benny Goodman, was in residence at the Hotel Astor in New York. During his engagement at the Hotel, Benny broadcast frequently, yet few airchecks exist of the bands performances. At this time Benny was having troubles with vocalists as well as steady employment in the Drum chair. Connors and Hicks state in their book "B.G. On The Record", that drummers were shuttling in and out of the band as frequently as vocalists." Ray McKinley, evidently on brief leave from the Glenn Miller AAF Orchestra helped Benny out and filled in during much of the Astor stay. On July 19, 1943 while playing at the Astor, Benny made a guest apperence with his Quartet on the WABC sustainer, "Broadway Bandbox" hosted by Frank Sinatra. The "Bandbox" was a weekly variety show that was one of CBS's late evening experiments with time formerly devoted to dance band remotes. The network felt that coupling songs by Sinatra with music by Raymond Scott and the large studio orchestra, that this would have a strong dial draw. The program met with a moderate degree of success and aired in various formats for 22 weeks. A partial list of stars and bandleaders that appeared on "Bandbox" as guests include Milton Berle, Carole Landis, Orson Welles, Harry James, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. On this particular week, Frank introduces Benny as first guest on the program and the quintet launches into the lovely 1919 Hickman and Williams' ROSE ROOM. The audience outburst in the middle of Jess' Piano solo was typical of the studio bobby sox reaction to Sinatra during his broadcasts at this time. Benny and the Quartet close their portion of the program with the ever popular Gershwins' OH, LADY BE GOOD, featuring both Benny and Jess. Notes by Wayne Knight