Jingle Bells – 1950
Firehouse Five Plus Two
A Christmas jam by the popular Dixieland band
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The Firehouse Five Plus Two was originally comprised of animators who worked for Disney and held jam sessions during their lunch hour.
While holding onto their day jobs, the group (which dressed in firemen outfits and often had a siren go off when the music got too hot) became quite popular, recording a string of albums in the 1950s and making personal appearances.
Here is a rare and amusing film clip from 1950 which at first shows the musicians sitting at their desks at Disney before the Christmas spirit gets the best of them.
Featured are trombonist-leader Ward Kimball, cornetist Danny Alguire, clarinetist Clarke Mallory, pianist Frank Thomas, banjoist Harper Goff, Ed Penner on tuba, and drummer Monte Mountjoy.
-Scott Yanow