This orchestra, apparently as vital to New York City's Hotel Taft as the bellboy pecking order and the linen supply closet, was a playground for several bandleaders between the '30s and '60s. The busy Vincent Lopez was fronting the Hotel Taft Orchestra as the '40s came to a close; his hotel affiliations also put him out front of Vincent Lopez His Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra. Preceding Lopez had been George Hall, whose recordings under the title of George Hall the Hotel Taft Orchestra include the 1934 Bluebird stroll entitled Flirtation Walk.

Enoch Light -- a dabbler in curiosities such as "phase four stereo" whose reputation in space age pop will be forever solid based on his name alone -- also recorded with the Hotel Taft Orchestra circa 1939, the titles including the lengthy It Took a Million Years. Lopez was involved in one of the best-known recordings with the ensemble, at least at the time of its release. One bizarre pop music trend during the late '40s and early '50s involved songs written by elected government officials including governors and mayors on subjects such as state history or civic responsibility. Lopez was one of the quickest performers to ride down My Memory Trail, a song with words and music by Oklahoma governor Roy J. Turner which was also recorded by vocal virtuoso Henry Jerome. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi