"The City Slickers, Spike Jones' orchestra of mayhem, was never a precise or permanent bunch of musicians, but the ever-changing cast of zany instrumentalists and singers sure could put together a funny song when Mr. Jones was at the helm. Spike Jones decided to start up his own band when, after working in his native Los Angeles as a drummer and songwriter for a few years in the burgeoning radio industry of the late 1930s, he felt that he needed more creative control. He wanted a team of his own to push the envelope in satirical, novelty-style musical arrangements. This kind of thing had seldom been attempted- at least not purposely- so in a way it was a substantial risk for the trailblazing Spike Jones.Initially a singer/clarinetist named Del Porter was the first mate of the band that came to be known as the City Slickers, but Porter only stuck around for a few of the earliest years. George Rock, a vocalist and trumpet player, stayed with the band from 1944 to 1960, as the most permanent City Slicker resident. Other notable band members include Mickey Katz, Doodles Weaver, Red Ingle and Billy Barty. In the early 1940s when Spike Jones His City Slickers were rising to the top of their game, musicians in Los Angeles were a dime a dozen, and nearly all the people who took part in Jones' orchestra had other commitments, other steady jobs or sold their musical services to whichever band or radio station needed their talents at the moment. Job market instability and Spike Jones' managerial skills insured that there was never a steady roster for the group, even when they were touring.Spike Jones His City Slickers were the greatest comedy/novelty artists of the 1940s and ‘50s, and their hit songs are still easily recognizable today. The popularity of television and the rise of rock 'n' roll eventually ate up the space that Spike Jones His City Slickers inhabited, but his contributions to popular music are seen all over the place- from ""Weird Al"" Yankovic to Frank Zappa."
