Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels
Historical Note
The origin of the Southern Colonels, a Virginia Tech dance orchestra, can be traced to 1918, when student Dayton Rice Taylor founded the Southern Syncopating Saxophone Six with five other students. After the early departure of one member, the band renamed itself the Virginia Tech Jazz Orchestra and was also known as the College Six. A popular fixture at campus functions, the group renamed itself again in 1922, becoming the Collegians. By 1931, the band had expanded to a nine-piece orchestra and in an attempt to be more distinctive ranamed itself yet again, as The Southern Colonels.
The Southern Colonels disbanded during World War II, but drummer Mel Feldenheimer helped to reassemble the band when he returned to campus in 1944, following his service in World War II. The orchestra quickly regained its popularity, performing at Virginia Tech and other colleges. During 1946 and 1947, the orchestra toured the southern states as Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels, with Feldenheimer as bandleader. The orchestra was featured in a weekly radio broadcast on Charleston, South Carolina's WCSC (now WSPO) while performing on the nearby Isle of Palms.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Melvin Feldenheimer Collection
Melvin Feldenheimer graduated from the Virginia Tech in 1944. Collection consists of materials from Feldenheimer's time as a cadet at Virginia Tech. Also included is a recording from a 1946 performance of Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels, a dance band lead by Feldenheimer during his time as a student and following World War II the band reunited and toured the south.
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- Subject: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University -- Dances X