While we all know that Who is on first base, not everyone is aware of the fact that he (Who) had twin brothers, Who and Who. They (the two Whos) were both involved in a barroom altercation in which guns were drawn, and each died. It is not known who shot first, hence the ongoing mystery, Who Dunit to Who?
And then there’s the presence of master drummer Dave Tough driving the band. ‘Nuff said?
While Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, and a handful of others are revered names in jazz singing from the 1940s, too few speak of June Richmond. Yet June, a veteran of the big bands of Jimmy Dorsey and Andy Kirk, was one of the finest vocalists of the era. She possessed a robust voice, spot-on pitch, an intense sense of swing, and a presence that made her intensely immensely popular with listeners, both on record and in stage appearances.
As successful as June’s vocal is on this tune, special mention must also be made of the backup band. The group was contracted by an old friend of mine, Jerry Jerome. The band was an all-star unit that included, among others, Carl Poole (growl trumpet on this Soundie); Lou McGarrity, trombone; Joe Dixon, reeds; Joe Bushkin, piano; and Jack Lesberg, string bass. But the most notable member of the band is the drummer, Dave Tough. Tough really drives the band, and while there are no solos – Dave was not one for solos at any time – there are a couple of drum breaks to accent the performance.
“Who Dunit to Who” was written by Elliott Daxe, Al Haas, and Mike Durso. It is presented here as a combination vocal by June, and song-story acted out by sideline extras who I have not been able to identify. If it were just a recording – if it had not been filmed as a Soundie – we would still have something quite special: a gruesome topic told with a great deal of swinging charm.
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