Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra

Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra were a smooth-swinging big band act led by the multi-talented Ozzie Nelson, who found fame both as a musician and later as a radio/TV icon. Active in the 1930s and early ’40s, the orchestra blended breezy jazz and romantic ballads, often featuring Ozzie’s wife, Harriet Nelson, as the vocalist. They became radio darlings, performing on shows like *The Baker’s Broadcast* and *The Red Skelton Show*, while their recordings captured the era’s charm with polished arrangements. Ozzie’s transition to sitcom stardom with *The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet* eventually overshadowed the band, but their music lives on through reissues like *Vintage Swingtime* and *The Uncollected Ozzie Nelson*, preserving their cozy, pre-war big band vibe. Fun fact: Their wholesome image wasn’t just an act—Ozzie and Harriet’s real-life marriage and family became the basis for their later TV legacy!

Genres

Big Band

Swing Music

Jazz

Easy Listening

Orchestral Music

Vocal Jazz

Swing

Romantic Ballad

Classic Pop

Related Artists

Count Basie

Glenn Miller

Benny Goodman

Harry James

Tommy Dorsey

Artie Shaw

Duke Ellington

Les Brown

Woody Herman

Lawrence Welk

Guy Lombardo

Jimmy Dorsey

Latest Release

Vintage Swingtime - Ozzie Nelson Big Band Classics

Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra

Album - 10 Tracks - Released April 25, 2025