Tune-Dex Card Let\'s Dance Benny Goodman Theme Song 1943 Big Band Musician Tool For Sale

This is a Tune-Dex card for the song \"Let\'s Dance,\" issued in August 1943 by Tune-Dex Inc. of 1619 Broadway, New York City. The card is an artifact of the professional music industry during the Big Band era, functioning as a licensed performance tool for working musicians. The front side contains a copyright and publishing ledger. It identifies the songwriters as lyricist Fanny May Baldridge and composers Gregory Stone and Joseph Bonime. The original 1935 copyright was held by Edward B. Marks Music Corporation. The card notes the song\'s usage as Benny Goodman\'s theme song, linking the card to Goodman\'s radio program of the same name. Performing rights are licensed through BMI. The card lists commercial details: full orchestration by arranger Vic Schoen was available for 75¢, and a piano copy in the key of C for 50¢. A warning states the card is \"for PROFESSIONAL use ONLY.\"The verso presents the complete lead sheet. The melody is notated in the key of C with a \"Moderato\" tempo marking. Chord symbols (e.g., C, G7, Cdim, A7, Dm7) are placed above the staff. Lyrics are integrated beneath the melody line. The notation uses a single staff with chords and lyrics, consistent with the Tune-Dex system\'s design as a precursor to the modern fake book. This format condenses the song to its essential elements for portability and rapid reference in rehearsals and live performances. The card documents the intersection of Tin Pan Alley publishing, broadcast media, and the daily needs of professional performers, recording the song\'s legal identity on one side and its functional musical notation on the other.