Originally from Pittsburgh, Zim came to Baltimore just after WWII. In 1946 he became bandleader at the Congress Hotel’s Rio Restaurant. In 1949 he began a long association as A&R with Columbia Records. Zim led a Jazz Trio in the ‘50s-60s (guitarist and vocalist). A 1964 single “Man About Town’ b/w “Marilyn My Love” featured Frank Blum with the Zim Zemarel Trio.
Seen locally at the Coronet, Blue Mirror, Surf Club, Mardi Gras, Latin Casino, house band at the Gaslight… Zim & his Dixieland Band performed in the Jazz on the Plaza series on August 16, 1974. His Orchestra played music ranging from big band to light rock and what he called his “swazze (pronounced swa-zay) sounds” and was featured annually in the ‘70s at the Preakness Festival at Pimlico Race Course. They performed inaugural balls for Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush… played for Baltimore Colts football games, Orioles opening day ceremonies, Kennedy Center, Baltimore Convention Center, many college proms and country clubs.
The orchestra routinely backed major stars as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Liza Minelli, and many others. Honors include Big Band International magazine’s 1984 Band of the Year, Baltimore magazine’s Best of Baltimore 1988…
As a record producer Zemarel oversaw the recording of the Rae Girard LP on Panda Records.
Zim’s son, Jamie Zemarel, sang with rock bands White Light and Nemo in late ’60-70s, went on to sing with his dad’s Orchestra.
Zim died in 1998 at the age of 82. The Orchestra continued in the ‘00s led by longtime members Wayne Hudson (drums), and Gene Bonner (sax), with Rich Collier (piano ex-Nocturnes, Bobby B’s Goin’ Back Band), Bobbie McCleary (vocals ex-Ray Disney group, Charm City Orchestra)…
Record releases include:
1964(45) Panda 1822 Man About Town / Marilyn My Love
1973(LP) Columbia 32248 Killing Me Softly with His Song
1976(LP) Columbia 34269 Love Will Keep Us Together
1977(LP) Columbia 34943 Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
1980(LP) Portrait 36501 A Man and His Band
1980(LP) Portrait 70040 Mala Femmini / Walking Home
1982(LP) Epic 38111 More Swazze
1989(CS) Hindsight 243 Stain Doll
1996(CD) (indie) In The Mood
