Well, other than Ella, the Andrews Sisters, and The Ink Spots (PARDON MY SARONG), I can't think of any other top tier, or even recognizable, music talent in their films. The closest might be Nan Wynn (who I've always, to this day, had a major crush on, though I've only see her in this film), who I discovered fairly recently was a Big Band singer. The recordings of her I have heard were with jazz pianist Teddy Wilson (a major name in jazz), but in a small group setting.
Ted Lewis (HOLD THAT GHOST) was supposedly a big star at the time (for reasons I will never understand), but you would be hard-pressed to find any aficionados of him today.
Nice video, metaldams. I do have all of Glenn Miller's studio recordings in one form or another (civilian band), and most of his Army Air Force band. (His plane went missing during WWII, and til this day has never been found.) It would have been nice to have him in an A&C film, since he didn't join the Army until late 1942. Miller is one of the only "sweet" bands from that era that I listen too, the other being Tommy Dorsey.
Some like it hot, and so do I. I'm a HUGE Ellington, Basie, Armstrong, Holiday, and Fitzgerald fan. Most people, I'm assuming, associate the era with Glenn Miller-type music, but believe you me, that's pretty tame. Ellington back in the 20s has some great stuff. At least Armstrong appeared in THE COLGATE COMEDY HOUR in an episode hosted by A&C. I have it on DVD, but haven't watched it in over 10 years. When listening to the best of early jazz, you don't get the feeling that this is "old" music. (Fidelity aside.) And once they moved to recording on tape circa 1950, the music is as immediate as something recorded today.
BTW, Billie Holiday is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted because she is considered an early influence.
And, regarding the different types of rock and roll -- everybody's talking 'bout the new sound funny, but it's still rock and roll to me.
(Hope people get the reference.)