Dom Martin
Interviews
Satin Dollz – The Pinup Army
The Satin Dollz
Satin Dollz – International Pinup darlings – burlesquebaby.net
The Satin Dollz frequently sing on BBC Radio to its 20 million listeners and always enjoy entertaining veterans in the US as well as overseas. Jazz residencies have included Los Angeles’ famous Cicada Club with Dean Mora’s Swing Orchestra, the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, and at the Jazz Cave in St. Julien’s Bay on the island of Malta.
Other notable appearances have included Battle of the Big Bands California Tour sharing the stage with 30 big band musicians, at the famed Swing 46 in New York with the George Gee 17 pc Orchestra, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Royal Chelsea Flower Show and as return headliners for the ever popular bi-annual 1940s Ball in Denver, CO with the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra and for Los Angeles’ annual Fleet Week.
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How long have the Satin Dollz been around, and where how did it all begin?
The group initially was introduced as a one time performance, for a theater production fundraiser in Los Angeles around 2001. So long ago, we can’t exactly remember!
A few years later in 2005, the group was resurrected for a party that never happened, (client cancelled) but after all our work getting ready for it, we just kept going and have been together ever since.
The Satin Dollz act was inspired by the swing dance bands popular in Los Angeles at the time. That emerged after the movie “Swingers”, as well as the style and music in the movie “For The Boys” starring Bette Midler, and the chorus girl number in “Singing In The Rain” with Debbie Reynolds.
The producer of the Satin Dollz herself, was a trained ballet dancer and performer in musical theatre growing up, so there was more emphasis on dance with the group at the start.
Once the Dollz started working with live bands, singers were added, and the show evolved to a full USO style show, to what is presented today, with sizzling vocal harmonies and show-stopping tap dancing.
Another passion of the producer is retro fashion, so fans will always be treated to several costumes changes during a show.
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How would you describe what you do?
The Satin Dollz are an international touring act, who perform classics from the 1920s and 1940’s, combining sizzling close harmony vocals, and show stopping tap dance.
Every show, reminiscent of a vintage Vegas stage show, is a spectacle, with charming audience interaction, a flurry of glamorous and glitzy costumes, and top-notch performances from each of the Satin Dollz.
Fans can enjoy a variety of shows from The Satin Dollz, including their signature 1940s Pin Up Revolution show, That’s So Gatsby, Tiki and Havana, Holiday Big Band and Sizzling Vintage Jazz. New show in the works is ” A Pin Up Christmas!”
I see you have dazzling audiences around the world, do you have different teams of gals in each country ?
The Satin Dollz has grown from 8 original Satin Dollz in Los Angeles, to now approximately 20 Dollz in each of our major home base cities, LA, Paris and London, with a total of 60 actively performing Satin Dollz.
We found with the increasing demand of shows and popularity in the pin up and vintage genre, that we needed to grow the group that we affectionately call the “Pin Up Army”.
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The European divisions were recently added in 2015 (Paris) and 2017 (London). These groups perform the same material as the US act, but each have their own style they add to the show.
The Paris act, as you might imagine, also performs a fabulous Can Can and Cabaret show with songs in both English and French. All Dollz divisions are directed by the main producer in Los Angeles and locally managed by very talented and accomplished women who are also performers.
Each division has free reign to introduce and collaborate new numbers by sharing choreography and vocals between continents. You may see one number in London premiere and a few weeks later it will pop up in a Paris or a US show!
The main office is definitely busier now that we have tripled our number of Satin Dollz, but we love that our community has expanded. Each Satin Doll is so talented and unique and we are thrilled having such a close-knit pin up army!
There’s actually a music video that all divisions filmed in their respective cities performing the same choreography and singing the same music. We are so proud of this music video as it is the perfect illustration of how we are all united internationally, and at the same time have individual charm. This video is a pin up explosion of 50 Satin Dollz and features so much vintage fashion from a variety of our generous and fabulous clothing sponsors.
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If someone was going to book the Satin Dollz what do you offer?
The Satin Dollz enjoy performing a variety of vintage themes and are the longest running pin up singing and tap dancing act still performing. Our genre is big band and jazz from the 1940s and the glamorous 1920s era.
We love to feature music from a variety of artists including Glenn Miller, Louis Prima, Nat King Cole, Andrews Sisters, Cab Calloway etc. In addition to the big band music the Dollz sing and tap dance to, the costumes are a big part of our show.
The producer is obsessed with 40s and 50s fashion and chooses all the costumes for every show. There can be up to 4 or 5 costume changes in one show. Costumes have evolved through the years and are a mix of authentic vintage dresses and reproductions with most of the costumes for the tap dancers custom designed and commissioned.
With our international growth and the pin up culture being such a visual medium, we are working a lot more with pin up style clothing sponsors such as Netherlands based Top Vintage Boutique, London based Voodoo Vixen and Collectif Clothing, US based Bettie Page Clothing and Girl Howdy Swimwear and custom made tap outfits from Vintage Suits By Mary featuring this fashion in our shows and on social media.
The Satin Dollz love the sound of swing music and are always looking for a new number to put our Satin Doll style to it with our signature harmonies and choreography. Fans can always count on getting to meet the Dollz after their show for photos and a cheerful hello.
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What kind of events do you perform at?
The Satin Dollz perform weekly in the US, England or France. It’s a challenge to keep up with the show schedule in the different countries but we love it. The shows take the Satin Dollz to new countries where they make fun memories together doing what they love. The most exotic place they have performed so far was the island of Malta where they spent the week performing at night and adventuring during the day sampling the food, exploring the sights and interacting with the residents of the gorgeous island.
Other shows we’ve enjoyed have been with our pals The Jive Aces at the Royal Chelsea Flower Show, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, West End’s Aldwych Theater, the 75th D-Day Heroes Concert and the bi-annual 1940s Ball in Denver with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
The Satin Dollz just recently completed a 16 country tour throughout Europe, US and Canada for “Party Like Gatsby,” a series of lively and lavish 1920s parties, and a 22 theater UK tour with The Jive Aces. The Satin Dollz are typically busy on patriotic calendar dates and throughout holiday season and recently summer festivals with their popular Tiki show. The best gigs to do are the ones for our WWII veterans because of the thrill of sharing this music that they danced to during a dramatic time.
The Satin Dollz love performing with bands whenever possible because nothing beats live music and have various residencies where they perform when they’re not on the road.
Goal venues would be Royal Albert Music Hall, Carnegie Hall and any stage with Harry Connick Jr., Michael Buble or Tony Bennett.
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Do you have any fun, fond or even funny memorable stories that you can share with us?
Too many to count from backstage antics to dealing with crazy sound issues on stage, rain downpours to almost missing trains for last minute emergency gigs (where we ubered new dresses 60 miles to the stage to meet the Dollz there in time for the show). Touching stories about meeting incredible war veterans and the overall behind the scenes international community of friendships that have developed between the Satin Dollz across continents. Old stories from the beginning days of rehearsing in parking lots, dancing in old Hollywood theaters with rats backstage (eeek), wardrobe malfunctions- stories are endless!
What makes the Satin Dollz unique?
Starting out as a tribute act to The Andrews Sisters back in 2005, The Satin Dollz have evolved as the longest current running pin up act who combines both close harmony vocals and tap dance. This all in one retro act has expanded to three countries with a community of over 60 pin up performing powerhouses with a signature look and performing style.
What type of music would people expect to hear generally at a Satin Dollz gig?
Classic big band favorites from the 1920s, 40s and 50s with some sass and powerful vocals.
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What events do you have coming up your can share with us?
There’s a monthly residency at The Federal Underground in Long Beach, where you can always find The Satin Dollz from LA. London is finishing up their UK tour with The Jive Aces and Paris will be performing at some out of country private events and Paris Disneyland’s Rock N Roll Festival in September. We are always adding shows and festivals so best to check on our website or follow our facebook page of events. There’s a possibility The Satin Dollz will be back at Viva Las Vegas in 2020!
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What’s your social accounts for your fans to find you?
We are very active on instagram with our main account @satindollz as well as every Satin Doll has their own individual instagram account where you can stay up to date with their individual shows and travels. You can find them by searching “Satin Doll” and their names will pop up. We are also on facebook as “The Satin Dollz” and we have an official website where each division (LA, London and Paris) has their own page and keeps a calendar of shows at www.thesatindollz.com. There’s also an official YouTube channel where you can subscribe to and catch our latest music videos of our international pin ups.
The Satin Dollz
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Photography:
Stuart Runham
Dom Martin
75th D-Day Anniversary Concert
Collectif
David Tenori
Jonathan Phillips
Tim Hunter
Check out our feature on the The LuWow in Queensland
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