When swing became popular and the big-band craze first landed in the '30s, not every American was ready for the hard-swinging style. Though similarly influenced by jazz maestros, the sound of the sweet band was simply an outgrowth from the society orchestra of the 10s and 20s. Based mostly in New York, hundreds of society bands fanned out across the metropolis each weekend, playing easily recognizable versions of the hits-of-the-day for light dances and debutante balls.

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