Story Behind The Song

I played this song every night for two years in the late '50's at a beach hotel in New York. It was requested continuously, danced to and wildly received at every performance. I have it recored here with a modern synthesizer. Unfortunately my original copies with two saxophones have not survived.

Song Description

HONKIN' HORNS by Joe Procopio is an exclusive solo for two saxophones based on the shuffle beat - known as the Shag down South. It is great Dance Music with a "swing" feel and was extremely popular in the Fifties. The Shag is still popular in the Carolinas and remains the State Dance for South Carolina. Louie Prima used the shuffle beat and became one of the most popular groups in the world in the 1950s. HONKIN' HORNS has the sound of 2 horns "honking" wonderfully together. It is GREAT FUN to listen, dance and play. There are very few solos for two saxophones with as much fun as HONKIN' HORNS and its cousin CRYIN' SAXES. Speaking from personal experience, there is no equal found in popular music that gives people as much pleasure along with the desire to dance. [The music here is written for Two Alto Saxophones or for Alto and Tenor Saxophone with a small quartet Piano, Guitar,Bass and Drums. It is, however, recorded here with a synthesizer.]