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I'll See You In My Dreams: The Music of Isham Jones

“I’ll See You In My Dreams,” “It Had To Be You,” “Swinging Down the Lane,” “The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else)” “You’ve Got Me Crying Again,” “On The Alamo” “No Greater Love”: these songs that created the soundtrack of the 1920s and 1930s were all composed by the same man, Isham Jones. Jones had one of the top bands in the country, recording hundreds of records that vied in popularity with Paul Whiteman and Ted Lewis. He was also a successful songwriter, penning over a hundred songs, a feat unmatched by any other bandleader.

Born in Coalton, Ohio in 1894 to a musical mining family, Isham Jones moved at a young age to Saginaw, Michigan where he began his musical education. In 1915 Jones relocated to Chicago and proceeded to become a musical cornerstone of the city. His popular band toured the country for the next two decades. When Jones retired from band leading (for the first of many times) in 1936, a young saxophonist in his band named Woody Herman took over and went onto his own fame. An unassuming personality, Jones’ name has undeservedly passed into obscurity, but his musical genius lives on in his incomparable song standards.

Don’t miss this concert celebrating Jones’ compositions from his first published song in 1908 through 1936. Featuring historic arrangements performed by an 11-piece jazz band under the direction of Joseph Rubin, along with vocalists Matt Tolentino and Rachel Will. Thrill to the music of this Ohio native that set the nation dancing in honor of Isham Jones’ 125th birthday!