Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw in Second Chorus (1940)
Background information
Birth name	Arthur Jacob Arshawsky
Born	May 23, 1910(1910-05-23)
Origin	New York City
Died	December 30, 2004 (aged 94) Thousand Oaks, California
Genre(s)	Swing Big band music
Occupation(s)	bandleader, composer
Instrument(s)	clarinet

Arthur Jacob Arshawsky (May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004), better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. Second Chorus ( 1940) is a Hollywood musical Comedy Film starring Fred Astaire, Burgess Meredith, Paulette Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The City of New York Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Thousand Oaks, commonly referred to as "TO" by residents is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A clarinetist (also spelled clarinettist) is a Musician who plays the Clarinet. A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as He is widely considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians of his time. He is also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings.

Early life

Born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky in New York City, Shaw grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, where his natural introversion was deepened by local antisemitism according to Shaw's autobiography. The City of New York The trait of Extraversion-Introversion is a central dimension of human personality. Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism; also rarely known as judeophobia) is the Prejudice against or hostility Shaw began learning the saxophone when he was 13 years old, and by the age of 16, he switched to the clarinet and left home to tour with a band. The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind Returning to New York, he became a session musician through the early 1930s. From 1925 until 1936, Shaw performed with a variety of bands and orchestras, including those of Johnny Caverello and Austin Wylie. In 1929 and 1930 he played with Irving Aaronson's Commanders, where he was exposed to symphonic music which he would later incorporate into his arrangements. Irving Aaronson ( February 7, 1895 &ndash May 10, 1963) was an American Jazz Pianist and Big band

Shaw first gained critical acclaim with his "Interlude in B-flat" at a swing concert at the Imperial Theater in New York in 1935. For other uses see Imperial Theatre. The Imperial Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 249 West 45th Street During the Swing Era, Shaw's big band was popular with hits like "Begin the Beguine" (1938), "Stardust" (with a legendary trumpet solo by Billy Butterfield), "Back Bay Shuffle", "Moonglow", "Rosalie" and "Frenesi. The Swing Era was the period of time (1935&ndash1946 when Big band Swing music was the most popular music in America. " Begin the Beguine " is a song written by Cole Porter and introduced by June Knight in the Broadway musical Jubilee ( 1935 " Stardust " is an American Popular song composed in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael with the lyrics added in 1929 by Mitchell Parish. Billy Butterfield ( January 14, 1917 in Middleton Ohio – March 18, 1988) was a jazz Trumpeter, Flugelhornist " Moonglow " is a 1934 popular song with music by Will Hudson and Irving Mills and words by Eddie DeLange. " Frenesi " is a musical piece originally composed by Alberto Dominguez for the Marimba, and adapted as a Jazz standard by Leonard Whitcup and others " He was an innovator in the big band idiom, using unusual instrumentation; "Interlude in B-flat", where he was backed with only a rhythm section and a string quartet, was one of the earliest examples of what would be later dubbed third stream. A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late A rhythm section is the Musicians in a Popular music band or ensemble who establish the Rhythmic pulse of a Song or musical A string quartet is a Musical ensemble of four String instruments &mdash usually two Violins a Viola and Cello &mdash or a piece Third stream is a term coined in 1957 by composer Gunther Schuller to describe a Musical genre which is a Synthesis of classical music

In addition to hiring Buddy Rich, he signed Billie Holiday as his band's vocalist in 1938, becoming the first white bandleader to hire a full-time black female singer. Bernard "Buddy" Rich ( September 30 1917 &ndash April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and Bandleader Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter White People is the second album by Handsome Boy Modeling School. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa However, after recording "Any Old Time" she left the band due to hostility from audiences in the South, as well as from music company executives who wanted a more mainstream singer. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive His band became enormously successful, and his playing was eventually recognized as equal to that of Benny Goodman: Longtime Duke Ellington clarinetist Barney Bigard cited Shaw as his favorite clarinet player. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. Albany Leon Bigard ( March 3, 1906 &ndash June 27, 1980) aka Barney Bigard, was an American Jazz Clarinetist In response to Goodman's nickname, the "King of Swing", Shaw's fans dubbed him the "King of the Clarinet". Shaw, however, felt the titles were reversed. "Benny Goodman played clarinet. I played music," he said.

Artie Shaw and his band playing "Everything's Jumping" from Second Chorus (1940)

Shaw did in fact prize innovation and exploration in music more highly than popular success and formulaic dance music, despite a string of hits which sold more than 100 million records. Second Chorus ( 1940) is a Hollywood musical Comedy Film starring Fred Astaire, Burgess Meredith, Paulette He fused jazz with classical music by adding strings to his arrangements, experimented with bebop, and formed "chamber jazz" groups which utilized such novel sounds as harpsichords or Afro-Cuban music. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a Musical instrument that produces Sound by means of Vibrating strings In the Hornbostel-Sachs Bebop or bop is a form of Jazz characterized by fast Tempos and Improvisation based on Harmonic structure rather than Melody A harpsichord is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard.

The long series of musical groups Shaw formed included such talents as vocalists Billie Holiday, Helen Forrest and, Mel Tormé, drummers Buddy Rich and Dave Tough,guitarists Barney Kessel, Jimmy Raney, and Tal Farlow and trombonist-arranger Ray Conniff, among countless others. Helen Forrest ( April 12, 1917 &ndash July 11, 1999) was one of the most popular female Jazz vocalists during America's Big Melvin Howard Tormé ( September 13, 1925 &ndash June 5, 1999) nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician known as Bernard "Buddy" Rich ( September 30 1917 &ndash April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and Bandleader Dave Tough ( 26 April, 1907 &ndash 9 December, 1948, sometimes known as Davie or Davey Tough) was an American Barney Kessel ( October 17, 1923 &ndash May 6, 2004) was an American Jazz Guitarist born in Muskogee Oklahoma Talmage Holt Farlow ( June 7, 1921 &ndash July 25, 1998) was a Jazz Guitarist He was born in Greensboro North Joseph Raymond Conniff ( November 06, 1916 - October 12 2002) was an American musician He composed the morose "Nightmare", with its Hassidic nuances, for his personal theme, rather than more approachable songs. In a televised interview of the 1970s, Shaw derided the often "asinine" songs that bands were compelled to play night after night. In 1994, he told Frank Prial (The New York Times), "I thought that because I was Artie Shaw I could do what I wanted, but all they wanted was 'Begin the Beguine. ' " ^[1]

Pacific overtures

During World War II, Shaw enlisted in the United States Navy and later formed a band, which served in the Pacific theater (similar to Glenn Miller's wartime band in Europe). World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Pacific Ocean theater was one of four major naval theatres of war of the Second World War that pitted forces of the Japan against those of the United Alton Glenn Miller ( March 1 1904 &ndash presumably December 15 1944) was an American Jazz musician and After 18 months playing for Navy personnel (sometimes as many as four concerts a day in battle zones, including Guadalcanal), Shaw returned to the U. Guadalcanal (local name Isatabu) is a 2510- Square mile (6500- km²) Island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon S. in a state of physical exhaustion, receiving a medical discharge. In the late 1940s, Shaw performed classical music at Carnegie Hall and with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein. Carnegie Hall (generally ˌkɑrnɨgi ˈhɔːl is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active Symphony Orchestra in the United States, organized during 1842 WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes

Like Benny Goodman and other leaders of big bands, Shaw fashioned a small group from within the band. He named it the Gramercy Five after his home telephone exchange. The quintet's sound was set apart by band pianist Johnny Guarneri playing a harpsichord on the quintet recordings and Al Hendrickson playing an electric guitar. In time, the quintet would prove another of Shaw's breaking of racial boundaries, when trumpeter Roy Eldridge became part of the group, succeeding Billy Butterfield. Roy David Eldridge ( January 30, 1911 &ndash February 26, 1989) nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American Billy Butterfield ( January 14, 1917 in Middleton Ohio – March 18, 1988) was a jazz Trumpeter, Flugelhornist The Gramercy Five's biggest hit was "Summit Ridge Drive" (Shaw's California address at the time). A CD of The Complete Gramercy Five sessions was released in 1990.

Throughout his career Shaw would take sabbaticals, quitting the music business. His first interregnum, at the height of his success, was met with disbelief by booking agents. They predicted that Shaw would not only be abandoning a million-dollar enterprise, but that nightclub and theater owners would sue him for breach of contract. Shaw's offhanded response was, "Tell 'em I'm insane. A nice, young American boy walking away from a million dollars, wouldn't you call that insane?"

In 1954, Shaw stopped playing the clarinet, citing his own perfectionism, which, he later said, would have killed him. He explained to a reporter, "In the world we live in, compulsive perfectionists finish last. You have to be Lawrence Welk, or, on another level, Irving Berlin, and write the same kind of music over and over again. Lawrence Welk ( March 11, 1903 &ndash May 17, 1992) was a Musician, Accordionist Bandleader, and Television Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 &ndash 22 September 1989 was a Russian-born American Composer and Lyricist, and one of the most prolific American songwriters I'm not able to do that. " He spent the rest of the 1950s living in Europe.

In 1981, he organized a new Artie Shaw Band with clarinetist Dick Johnson as bandleader and soloist. Dick Johnson is best known as a Big band Clarinetist in the The Artie Shaw Orchestra Shaw himself would guest conduct from time to time, ending his self-imposed retirement.

After Canadian filmmaker Brigitte Berman interviewed Shaw, Hoagy Carmichael, Doc Cheatham and others for her documentary film Bix: Ain't None of Them Play LIke Him Yet (1981) about Bix Beiderbecke, she went on to create an Academy Award-winning documentary, Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got (1985), featuring her interviews with Shaw, Buddy Rich, Mel Tormé, Helen Forrest and others. Hoagland Howard "Hoagy" Carmichael (November 22 1899 – December 27 1981 was an American Composer, Pianist, singer actor and bandleader Adolphus Anthony Cheatham, much better known as Doc Cheatham ( 13 June, 1905 &ndash 2 June, 1997) was a Jazz Trumpeter Leon Bix Beiderbecke ( March 10, 1903 &ndash August 6, 1931) was an American Jazz Cornetist and composer as well "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Later in 2003, along with members of his original bands and other music professionals, Shaw was extensively interviewed by Russell Davies for the BBC Television documentary, Artie Shaw — Quest for Perfection, which became his last major interview. Robert Russell Davies was born in 1946 in Barmouth, North Wales and currently presents a Sunday radio programme on BBC Radio 2 which spotlights popular

In 1991, Artie Shaw's band library and manuscript collection was donated to the University of Arizona. The University of Arizona (also referred to as UA, U of A, or Arizona) is a Land-grant and space-grant public institution In 2004, he was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to "performers who during their lifetimes have made creative contributions of outstanding

Personal life

A self-proclaimed "very difficult man," Shaw was married eight times: Jane Cairns (1932); Margaret Allen (1934-37); actress Lana Turner (1940); Betty Kern (1941-43), the daughter of songwriter Jerome Kern; actress Ava Gardner (1945-46); Forever Amber author Kathleen Winsor (1946-48); actress Doris Dowling (1952-56); and actress Evelyn Keyes (1957-85). Lana Turner ( February 8, 1921 &ndash June 29, 1995) was an Academy Award -nominated American Film Jerome David Kern ( January 27, 1885 &ndash November 11, 1945) was an American Composer of popular music Ava Lavinia Gardner ( December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an Academy Award -nominated American actress Kathleen Winsor ( October 16, 1919 - May 26, 2003) was an American author best known for the Romance novel Forever Doris Dowling ( May 15 1923, Detroit Michigan – June 18 2004, Los Angeles) was an American Film actress Evelyn Keyes ( November 20 1916 &ndash July 4 2008) was an American Film actress. He had one son with Betty Kern, and another son, Jonathan Shaw (a well-known tattoo artist who founded Fun City Tattoo), with Doris Downing. Jonathan D Shaw (born July 4 1953 is a New York-born tattoo artist and writer best known for his innovative tribal tattoos in the early nineties and his contributions as managing Artie Shaw often disparaged his wives publicly; when asked why he never saw his children, he replied, "I didn't get along with the mothers, so why should I get along with the kids?"

In 1946, Shaw was present at a meeting of the Independent Citizens' Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions. Olivia de Havilland and Ronald Reagan, part of a core group of actors and artists who were trying to sway the organization away from communism, presented an anti-communist declaration which, if signed, was to run in newspapers. Olivia Mary de Havilland (born July 1, 1916) is a two-time Academy Award -winning actress. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based Anti-communism refers to opposition to Communism. Historically the word "communism" has been used to refer to several types of communal social organization and There was bedlam as many rose to champion the communist cause, and Artie Shaw began praising the democratic standards of the Soviet constitution. ^[2] In 1953, Shaw was brought up before the House Un-American Activities Committee for his leftist activities. The House Committee on Un-American Activities ( HUAC or HCUA 1938–1975 was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. Collectivism is a term used to describe any moral political or social outlook that stresses human Interdependence and the importance of a Collective, rather than The committee was investigating a peace activist organization, the World Peace Congress, which it considered a communist front. The World Peace Council (or World Council of Peace) was formed in 1949 in order to promote Peaceful coexistence and Nuclear disarmament.

He was a precision marksman, ranking fourth in the United States in 1962, as well as an expert fly fisherman. Shooting is the act or process of firing Rifles Shotguns or other projectile Weapons such as bows or Crossbows Even the firing of Fly fishing is a distinct and ancient Angling method most renowned as a method for catching Trout and Salmon, but employed today for a wide variety of In his later years, Shaw lived and wrote in the Newbury Park section of Thousand Oaks, California. The community of Newbury Park, California is located in the western portion of the City of Thousand Oaks and Casa Conejo, an unincorporated area Thousand Oaks, commonly referred to as "TO" by residents is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. Shaw had long suffered from adult onset diabetes and finally died of complications of the disease at age 94. Diabetes mellitus (ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz or /ˌdaɪəˈbiːtəs/ /məˈlaɪtəs/ or /ˈmɛlətəs/ often referred to simply as diabetes ( Ancient Greek: grc In 2005, Shaw's eighth wife, Evelyn Keyes, sued Shaw's estate, claiming that she was entitled to one-half of Shaw's estate pursuant to a contract to make a will between them. In July 2006, a Ventura, California jury unanimously held that Keyes was entitled to almost one-half of Shaw's estate, or $1,420,000. ^[3]

Radio rhythms

Artie Shaw performing his "Concerto for Clarinet" in 1940

Shaw did many big band remotes, and he was often heard from the Blue Room of New York's Hotel Lincoln. A big band remote (aka dance band remote) was a Remote broadcast, popular on radio during the 1930s and 1940s involving a coast-to-coast live transmission of a It was the location of his only regular radio series as headliner. Sponsored by Old Gold cigarettes, Shaw broadcast on CBS from November 20, 1938 until November 14, 1939. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

At the height of his popularity, Shaw reportedly earned $60,000 per week. For a comparison, George Burns and Gracie Allen, were each making US $5,000 per week during the year (1940-41) the Artie Shaw Orchestra provided the music for their radio show. George Burns ( January 20 1896 &ndash March 9 1996; born Nathan Birnbaum) was an American comedian, Actor Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen ( July 26 1895 Allen used to claim that she was born in 1906 but when pressed for evidence she would say that her birth certificate He also acted on the show as a love interest for Gracie Allen and the sarcastic bandleader who had trouble with South American guitarist Señor Lee, who could not fully grasp English.

Films, TV and fiction

Shaw made several musical shorts in 1939 for Vitaphone and Paramount Pictures, and he portrayed himself in the Fred Astaire film Second Chorus (1940), which featured Shaw and his orchestra playing "Concerto for Clarinet. Vitaphone was a Sound film process used on features and nearly 2000 Short subjects produced by Warner Bros Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California. Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 &ndash June 22, 1987) was an American Academy Award Second Chorus ( 1940) is a Hollywood musical Comedy Film starring Fred Astaire, Burgess Meredith, Paulette " The film brought him two Oscar nominations, for Best Score and Best Song ("Love of My Life"). He collaborated on the song "If It's You" for the Marx Brothers' film, The Big Store (1941). The Marx Brothers were a popular team of sibling Comedians who appeared in Vaudeville, stage plays film and television The Big Store ( 1941) is a Marx Brothers Comedy film in which Groucho, Chico and Harpo work to save the Phelps In 1950, he was a mystery guest on What's My Line?, and during the 1970s he made appearances on The Mike Douglas Show and The Tonight Show. What's My Line? is a weekly panel Game show which was produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS The Mike Douglas Show was an American daytime Television Talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that ran from 1961 to 1982 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as appropriate --> The Tonight Show is a long-running

Many of his recordings have been used in motion pictures. His recording of "Stardust" was used in its entirety in the closing credits of the film "The Man Who Fell to Earth". Also, Martin Scorsese used the Shaw theme song, "Nightmare," in his Academy Award-winning Howard Hughes biopic, The Aviator. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Howard Robard Hughes Jr (December 24 1905 – April 5 1976 was an American Aviator, Industrialist, Film producer / director, Philanthropist A biographical motion picture &mdash often shortened to biopic &mdash is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

He credited his time in the Navy as a period of renewed introspection. He entered psychoanalysis and began to pursue a writing career. His autobiography, The Trouble With Cinderella: An Outline of Identity was published in 1952 (with later reprint editions in 1992 and 2001). Revealing downbeat elements of the music business, Shaw explained that "the trouble with Cinderella" is "nobody ever lives happily ever after. " He turned to semi-autobiographical fiction with the three short novels in I Love You, I Hate You, Drop Dead! (1965, reprinted in 1997), which prompted Terry Southern's comment: "Here is a deeply probing examination of the American marital scene. Terry Southern ( May 1, 1924 &ndash October 29, 1995) was a highly influential American short story writer novelist essayist screenwriter I flipped over it!" Shaw's short stories, including "Snow White in Harlem," were collected in The Best of Intentions and Other Stories (1989). He worked for years on his 1000-page autobiographical novel The Education of Albie Snow, but the three-volume work remains unpublished. Currently, through Curtis International Associates, the Artie Shaw Orchestra is still active.

Discography

• Artie Shaw And His Orchestra, Moonglow: 1956

Listen to

• Radio Lovers: Artie Shaw Orchestra at New York's Hotel Lincoln (December 6, 1938)
• Artie Shaw's "Dancing in the Dark"

References

External links

• University of Arizona: Artie Shaw Collection
• Artie Shaw at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-05
• Artie Shaw official site
• IMDb: Artie Shaw
• Biography at swingmusic.net
• Swing Bandleader, Clarinetist Artie Shaw Dies, Washington Post, December 31, 2004