Lew Stone - With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming

Lew Stone (1898-1969) worked in the 20's with important dance bands. Roy Fox's Band opened at the Monseigneur Restaurant in 1931 and Lew Stone took the up the position of pianist and arranger. When Roy Fox became ill in October he was sent off to Switzerland to rest and Lew assumed leadership of the band. The main vocalist at the Monseigneur was the very popular Al Bowlly who had already sung on over 30 recordings. Bowlly gained his musical experience singing for a dance band led by Jimmy Liquime. Bowlly arrived in London for the first time as part of Fred Elizalde's orchestra. In the 1930s, he was to sign two contracts which were to change his fortunes. Despite Bowlly's stellar success in Britain through the early 1930s, he never achieved the same measure of fame in the USA, and his absence from the UK when he moved to the States in 1934 damaged his popularity with UK audiences. This wonderful recording was made in 1934.