Jersey Bounce

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Jersey Bounce" is a song written by Myron C. Bradshaw, Edward Johnson and Bobby Plater with lyrics by Buddy Feyne who used the nom de plume Robert B. Wright (as this song was written during an ASCAP strike). It hit #1 in 1942 as an instrumental recorded by Benny Goodman and his orchestra, and also charted that same year by Jimmy Dorsey (#9) and Shep Fields (#15) . It was covered by numerous bands and swing orchestras including Glenn Miller, Jan Savitt and Red Norvo. Artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Mae Morse and The King Sisters also recorded it. Ella Fitzgerald recorded on her two albums "Clap Hands, Here Comes Charley" and again on "All That Jazz." The King Sisters and Ella Mae Morse versions were singles.

The tune was so popular it was the name of two B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in the 303rd Bombardment Group (H). an 8th Air Force B-17 "Flying Fortress" four engine bomber Group, stationed at Molesworth, England during World War II. In fact, this plane flew 14 combat missions and was labeled "the hardest hit ship of the 358th Bomb Squadron (VK-K)". After it was taken out of commission, the "Jersey Bounce 2" replaced it. Four other Bombardment Groups had B-17 bombers named "Jersey Bounce".

"Jersey Bounce" has been used in various movies, including big band film The Benny Goodman Story, Carnal Knowledge, The Electric Horseman, and Starsky & Hutch.^{[citation needed]}

The lyrics begin:

They call it the Jersey Bounce

A rhythm that really counts

The temperature always mounts

Whenever they play the funny rhythm they play

It started on Journal Square

And Somebody heard it there

They put it right on the air

And now you'll hear it everywhere...