Al Trace

Originating from the United States, Trace initially served as drummer and lead singer across multiple regional ensembles that toured the Midwest circuit. In 1933 he assembled his own dance orchestra in Chicago, Illinois, with vocal duties shared among himself, Toni Arden and Bob Vincent. Their debut booking proved high-profile, securing a slot at the Chicago World’s Fair that same year. Extended residencies at the Blackhawk Restaurant and a three-year stay at the Sherman Hotel soon followed. Although the ensemble first gained traction within Illinois, nationwide recognition arrived through a string of hit recordings. Among these were Trace’s own creations “You Call Everybody Darling,” “Brush Those Tears From Your Eyes,” “Wishin’” and “If I’d Known You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked A Cake,” the most prominent selections from roughly three hundred songs he authored. Many of the compositions appeared on disc via the band’s recording ties to MGM, Mercury and Columbia Records. Rising demand restricted the group to top-tier engagements only. Broadcast exposure arrived via the radio program It Pays To Be Ignorant and a Chicago television series that aired for six months beginning in 1949. By the late 1950s Trace stepped away from leading the orchestra, supported by substantial royalties from his catalog. He relocated to the West Coast, where he kept composing and launched a personal management firm. In the mid-1970s he settled in Scottsdale, Arizona, joining fellow bandleader Tommy Reed at the Southwest Booking Agency.