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Dick Messner (né Richard Messner; 18 December 1907 Manhattan, New York – February 1972) was an American leader of a sweet-styled dance orchestra bearing his name from about 1938 to about 1942. He flourished as a dance band pianist from about 1923 to about 1942.

Career
Messner founded his orchestra around 1938, after a 16-year run performing with his four brothers as "The Five Messner Brothers" with himself as pianist, Johnny as violinist and clarinetist, Charlie (né Charles Messner; 1905–2003) (woodwinds), Bill (né William Messner; 1904–1982) on drums, and Fred (né Frederick Messner; born 1902) on violin. The Five Brothers made their radio broadcast debut in 1923 on NBC, then known as WJZ.

The Five Messner Brothers and, from 1938 to 1941, the Dick Messner Orchestra, and after World War II, the Johnny Messner Orchestra, performed on national radio broadcasts and regionally around Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Selected musicians

 * Bernice Margaret Healey (1917–1990) was, in 1938, a featured soprano vocalist with Dick Messner. He began singing on radio broadcasts as early as 1934. She was the sister of singer Florence Healey (1911–1974), who, early in her career, sang under her real name, but, around 1935, sang under the stage name of "Onions Healey" with (i) Nils T. Granlund (ii) Texas Guinan's Chorus, beginning around 1936, sang under the stage name of "Gloria Whitney with Vincent Lopez, Russ Morgan (including a performance with Morgan in the 1939 short film, Russ Morgan and His Orchestra, and Ted Black (né Theodore Aboussleman; 1902–1969), Gabby Clarence Stroud (1907–1973) (formerly of the Stroud Twins), Michael Loring (né Samuel Isaack Mirviss; 1908–1993).


 * Homer Mensch, bassist, performed with the Dick Messner Orchestra at the Hotel McAlpin


 * Norwood Linn, tenor from California


 * Irene Collins, who, before singing with Messner, was a featured vocalist with Fran Frey

Record label
When the Messner brothers started the Philo (later Aladdin) label that same year, Norman Granz was on board to produce the legendary session by Lester Young with Nat Cole on piano. Additional sessions followed. I always wondered if he was involved in the Coleman Hawkins date with Miles Davis on trumpet.

Experimentation
In 1936, Dick Messner introduced an idea in New York called "Tymphonic Music" — an ensemble of 10 Timpani, a harp, and an augmented violin section in a band of 18 musicians. It was believed that the experiment was the first time that Timpani had been used wholesale for modern music.

Selected discography
5-11-10 (catalog no.)

Recorded September 11, 1935

Dick Messner and His Orchestra  "The Oregon Trail"

Matrix: 18066=1 "Wouldn't I Be A Wonder"

Matrix: 18071=1

Control no.: E890? Melotone

Conqueror

Cross reference: CQ8570

5-11-11 (catalog no.)

Recorded September 11, 1935

Dick Messner and His Orchestra  "Now You've Got Me Doing It"

Johnny Burke (words)

Harold Spina (music)

Irene Collins (vocalist)

Matrix: 18071 "Rhythm and Romance"

George A. Whiting (words)

Nat Schwartz (pseudonym Nat Burton; 1901–1945) (words)

J.C. Johnson (music)

Irene Collins (vocalist)

Matrix: 18068 Melotone

Conqueror

Cross reference: CQ8607

5-12-02 (catalog number)

Recorded September 11, 1935

Dick Messner and His Orchestra

 <li>"I Live For Love"

Matrix: 18067</li> <li>"Mine Alone"

Matrix: 18069</ol> Melotone

Conqueror</li>

<li>5-12-09 (catalog no.)

Recorded October 14, 1935

Dick Messner and His Orchestra

<ol type="A" start="1"> <li>"On Treasure Island"

Edgar Leslie (words)

Joe Burke (music)

Peter Schipper (vocals)

Matrix: 18166=1

Xref: CQ8571</li> <li>"When The Leaves Bid The Trees Goodbye"

Tot Seymour (pseudonym of Grace Mann; 1889–1966) (words)

Vee Lawnhurst (pseudonym of Laura Lowenherz; 1905–1992) (music)

Matrix: 18164=1 Xref: CQ8606</ol> Melotone

Conqueror</li>

<li>6-01-07 (catalog no.)

Recorded October 14, 1935

Dick Messner and His Orchestra

<ol type="A" start="1"> <li>"In Your Own Innocent Way"

Harold Newell Raymond (1884–1957) (w&m)

Nat Simon (w&m)

Sammy Mysels (1906–1974) (w&m)

Irene Collins (vocalist)

Matrix: 18163</li> <li>"You Stayed Away Too Long"

George A. Whiting (words)

Nat Schwartz (pseudonym Nat Burton; 1901–1945) (words)

J. C. Johnson (music)

Johnny Messner (vocalist)

Matrix: 18165=1

Xref: CQ8614</ol> Melotone

Conqueror</li>


 * Note: There may be other spellings of the artist's name, and you may find other recordings by "Dick Messner And His Orchestra" listed under other musical groupings.