Paul Allen asks about another of his passions with this entertaining book “When Swing Was King”

We ran this back in December, but I felt it was a good time to rerun this piece again for those who may not have seen it or been aware of it the first time.

Art Koch has been associated with me and NightMoves Magazine since 1989 when I began it as a local sports publication, Sports South and it evolved into NightMoves 3 years later. Art has become one of the industry’s most respected, honest and well liked critics over the past 25 years. He is a voting member of XRCO, co-producer of our annual NightMoves Adult Awards show, and writes reviews and daily features for AAN, the All Adult Network and NightMoves Magazine. In addition, he was on the “Foxxxy Forum” radio show with Angye Fox with his “Art of Adult” segment for 2 years.

Now another side and passion of Art’s comes out with his new book titled “When Swing Was King”. That other passion being his love for the music and the history of the big band/swing era and the historical time period it took place in.

I asked Art how the book came about. “It was a period that I grew up in and with my father being a musician and with his own band, music was always front and center.” He says, adding, “I loved it from the beginning and though I never learned to play an instrument, it had a lot to do with me becoming a radio disc jockey for a number of years.”

He has had the idea for the book for years and until five years ago really did nothing about it. I knew he was writing a baseball book, but didn’t know about this one. Art says, “One night we were watching a show about the big band era and the writing juices began to flow and I started work on the book, but when it was done, I didn’t think at my age I’d get it published, so it just became something of a labor of love for my own amusement.”

Then in December 2014 something happened that triggered his mind to do something about the book.

“On Dec.3, 2014, I suffered a “Widow Maker” heart attack and was later told I had a 30 minute window to live or die. Fortunately, thanks to great doctors, and you insisting I go to the ER, I made it through and in a week was back to work and you thought I was crazy to return so soon!”

The heart attack made Art feel like maybe he was given this chance to finish the book and actually get it published. So he did a couple of rewrites, made a few additions and subtractions and found a publisher, Tara Richter, of Richter Publishing in Clearwater, who he sent the manuscript to. A few days later when Art came into the office he told us he had gotten a contract from Tara to publish and release the book.

So after five years of working on this labor of love, Art’s book, “When Swing Was King” is now available on line on several sites. If you are a lover of music, regardless of what kind, and also like history, then you will love this book and how he ties that period in history, the depression, World War II and the big bands between 1935 – 1947 and beyond, all together. I read it and found it interesting, entertaining, informative and with some great photos. All I can say is if you know someone, friend, family, music lover who remembers that period they will love this book as well.

There are some interesting tid bits throughout the book that I was surprised by. I had no idea that Dale Evans was a big band singer before she became “Queen of the West”, or movie star Jane Russell once sang with the Kay Kyser Orchestra. There is also a real surprise concerning Art Carney, who played Norton on the “Honeymooners” and a lot more interesting facts in the book.

This would make a great birthday, Father’s Day gift or just a great present for someone who loves music and enjoys reading. You can find Art’s book, which is less than $15 at www.amazon.com  www.barnesandnoble.com  www.booksamillion.com  So please check it out.

I am very proud of my friend and associate for 33 years on his accomplishments with this book. I know he has been working on another book and I look forward to seeing that one come out.

Paul Allen, Publisher, NightMoves Magazine