Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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TUCKER, Tommy

(b Gerald Duppler, 18 May 1908, Souris ND; d 13 July 1989, Sarasota FL) Pianist and bandleader. He formed his first dance band in 1929, another one in 1935, and he formed a swing band in 1944 (a jazz-oriented band, as opposed to a 'sweet' band), but it failed. His biggest hit was 'I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire' in 1941, one of four big hit versions. (Interestingly, the great black arranger Eddie Durham was one of the co-writers of that song; it is said to have been introduced by Harlan Leonard and his Kansas City Rockets, a black band, and one of the hit recordings was by the Ink Spots.) We assume it was Tucker's swing band that had a hit in 1945 with a cover of Johnny Mercer's 'On The Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe'; but that was Tucker's last chart entry: the dance band business was on the ropes.

His records and broadcasts were labeled "It's Tommy Tucker Time!" He was very handsome, which probably didn't hurt in those days, when the bandleaders were the stars. He retired from performing in 1959, taught high school English for a year, then became a a professor of music at Monmouth College, eventually become Dean of the music department.