John Rayburn

John Rayburn spent several decades in broadcasting. He served as a news/sports anchor and show host on both radio and television. His TV newscast achieved the largest Share of Audience figures of any major-market TV newscast in the nation.

His network credits include reports and appearances on The Today Show, Huntley-Brinkley News, Walter Cronkite News, NBC Monitor, NBC News on the Hour, etc. He recorded dozens of books for the National Library Service via the Library of Congress and narrated innumerable Radio/TV recordings. Rayburn has traveled extensively throughout the nation, plus Europe, the United Kingdom, et al, gaining information and making observations about our national foibles.

His latest eBook, “Big Band Bash: Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be,” offers provocative and exciting stories about a great period of popular music. Broadcasting Hall of Famer Rayburn had conversation/interviews with many of the major stars including Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Nat King Cole, Jo Stafford, Buddy Rich, Charlie Barnet, Les Paul and a great many more. What famous crooner was invited to sing along with a big band when he was only four years old? Which big band enjoyed receiving big tips from mobster Al Capone? How did Nathaniel Adams Coles become Nat King Cole? Who gambled away part of a band’s income and left Woody Herman in serious debt to the IRS? What was Norma Deloris Egstrom’s professional name? Who once angrily threw a pitcher of water at drummer Buddy Rich? How did Shirley Luster become June Christy? There are behind the scenes anecdotes of vibrant swing/jazz music during troubled times of the Great Depression and WWII that made the whole world dance and sing along. As someone once said, “Played right you can make Bach swing.”

“Big Band Bash: Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be” is available at:

http://amazon.com/dp/B00XDB7IUS/ Click “Look Inside” for a free sample.

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