CCMusic.com

Nat Brusiloff (1904-1951), violin virtuoso and dance band conductor, was among the earliest "personality leaders." At the peak of his fame, in the early 1930s, he was musical director for Kate Smith and led hot dance ensembles that broadcast coast-to-coast over the CBS and NBC radio networks. Because he made almost no commercial recordings, his name has slipped into undeserved obscurity. Thankfully, Brusiloff did record several dozen 12-inch 78s for distribution to radio stations, and those extraordinarily rare discs form the basis of this fist-ever Brusiloff collection. The 48-page illustrated booklet by Grammy nominee David Sager tells the entertaining but ultimately tragic story of this mischievous musical prodigy.All selections have been lovingly remastered by renowned sound engineer Doug Benson for the best possible sound. More than 2 1/2 hours of top-shelf early '30s dance music fills the 2 CDs.