Samuel Charles Lanin was born in 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was one of ten children. He learned to play the clarinet and violin while just a boy and in 1912 at the age of 21, he was offered a spot in Victor Herbert's orchestra. After World War 1 ended, he moved to New York City in hopes to expand his career. He very well did, landing a gig at the Roseland Ballroom in later 1918 where he established the Roseland Orchestra. This was the start of his recording career as well, producing recordings for Columbia in the early 1920's. Through his recording career, he played with a vast number of ensembles under names like Lanin's Jazz Band, Lanin's Arcadians, Lanin's Famous Players, Lanin's Southern Serenaders, Lanin's Red Heads, Sam Lanin's Dance Ensemble, and today's Sam Lanin's Dance Orchestra. Although a pattern appears to be emerging, he did NOT always give himself top-billing in his acts (Ladd's Black Aces, The Broadway Bell-Hops, The Westerners, The Pillsbury Orchestra and Bailey's Lucky Seven). Through his time at the Roseland, he had a rotating cast of notable musicians playing with him, constantly creating a buzz around his work. Although not near the extent of Ben Selvin, Lanin ranks up there as one of the most prolific recording bandleaders of all time. Between 1920 and 1931, he directed over 400 sessions involving nearly every big label.
Ironically, Lanin didn't do much actual playing in his recordings, but took more of a directorial roll, composing clean, well-orchestrated arrangements. This made him a natural at the fast pace of radio as well, playing regularly with the Roseland Orchestra on New York radio every Monday from 1923 to 1925. Eventually he entered into a sponsorship with Bristol-Myers for a toothpaste brand called Ipana. Money talks, so the Roseland Orchestra became "The Ipana Troubadours" from 1928 to 1929...then the money dried up.
The 1929 stock market crash hit Sam harder than it did his brothers Lester and Howard (who were also composers). The contract with Ipana fell through, taking away the radio show and the brand name sponsorship. To make it through the difficult times, he took a job cutting transcription discs. Unfortunately he never recaptured that lightning, and with the money he gained from his dealings in the 20's, he retired from the music industry by the late 30's and never returned to music.
This is Sam Lanin's take on "Tamiami Trail", originally written by Cliff Friend and Joseph Santly with Billy Jones providing the vocals for the track. The recording took place in New York City on March 10, 1926.