Why so much love for the xylo? Well, sound recording was still in its infancy, and it was one of a small number of instruments that actually sounded good. Especially when Joe Green played it. A former member of Sousa’s band, Joe and his younger brother George were both masters of the instrument, as well as its close cousin, the marimba. They recorded together under many different names, among them Joe Green’s Novelty Orchestra, The Blue and White Marimba Band, Joe Green’s International Novelty Orchestra and… Klein’s Serenading Shoemakers. Here’s Joe Green with Xylophonia, from 1927.
You’ve heard the marimba before, if you’ve ever watched, or been forced to watch HBO’s Sex and the City. It’s in the theme song…to listen with your newly-trained ear, click right here