Ben Pollack | |
|---|---|
 Pollack and His Californians, Chicago, 1926: (L-R)Glenn Miller,Benny Goodman,Gil Rodin, Harry Green, Ben Pollack,Fud Livingston, Al Harris, Harry Goodman, Vic Briedis, Lou Kastler | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1903-06-22)June 22, 1903 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 7, 1971(1971-06-07) (aged 67) Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1923–1971 |
| Labels | |
[1]Benjamin "Ben" Pollack (June 22, 1903 – June 7, 1971)[2] was an American drummer and bandleader from the mid-1920s through theswing era. His eye for talent led him to employ musicians such asBenny Goodman,Jack Teagarden,Glenn Miller,Jimmy McPartland, andHarry James. This ability earned him the nickname the "Father of Swing".[3]
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Pollack was born inChicago, learned to play drums in high school and formed groups on the side, performing professionally in his teens.[4] He joined theNew Orleans Rhythm Kings in Chicago in 1923 and later joined the Los Angeles-basedHarry Bastin Band.[4][5]
In 1924, he returned to Chicago, where he played for several bands, includingArt Kessel's, which ultimately led to his forming a band, the 12-piece Venice Ballroom Orchestra,[4][6] there in 1925, also known as ben Pollack and his Californians,[4] which had some performances broadcast onWLW radio inCincinnati,Ohio.[7]
Over time the band includedBenny Goodman,Glenn Miller,Jack Teagarden, andJimmy McPartland.[4][5] One of the earliest members of his band wasGil Rodin, a saxophonist whose business acumen served him well later as an executive for theMusic Corporation of America.
From about 1928, with involvement fromIrving Mills, members of Pollack's band moonlighted at Plaza-ARC and recorded a vast quantity of hot dance and jazz for their dime store labels —Banner,Perfect,Domino,Cameo,Lincoln,Romeo — under the names Mills' Merry Makers, Goody's Good Timers, Kentucky Grasshoppers, Mills' Musical Clowns, The Lumberjacks, Dixie Daises, The Caroliners, The Whoopee Makers, The Hotsy Totsy Gang, Dixie Jazz Band, and Jimmy Bracken's Toe Ticklers. Combining Pollack's regular recordings with these side groups made Pollack's one of the more prolific bands of the 1920s and 1930s.
Pollack's band played in Chicago and moved to New York City in 1928, having obtained McPartland and Teagarden around that time. This outfit enjoyed immense success, playing for Broadway shows and winning an exclusive engagement at the Park Central Hotel. Pollack's band was involved in extensive recording activity at that time, using a variety of pseudonyms in the studios. The orchestra also made aVitaphone short subject sound film.
Pollack, in the meantime, had fancied himself as more of a bandleader-singer type instead of a drummer.[2] To this end, he signedRay Bauduc to handle the drumming chores.[2] The band was booked by the Park Central Hotel in New York, during which time they became known as Ben Pollack and his Park Central Orchestra.[4] Benny Goodman and Jimmy McPartland left the band in mid-1929. They were replaced byMatty Matlock on clarinet and Jack Teagarden's brother,Charlie, on trumpet.Eddie Miller was also signed as atenor saxophonist in 1930.
The band broke up in 1935.[4] Many of its members soon formed a group led byBob Crosby, brother ofBing Crosby.[2][4]
Pollack formed a new band withHarry James andIrving Fazola.[2] With James he wrote the hit "Peckin'". In the early 1940s, he organized a band led by comedianChico Marx. He startedJewel Records, opened restaurants in Hollywood and Palm Springs, appeared as himself in the movieThe Benny Goodman Story, and made a cameo inThe Glenn Miller Story.[4]
Pollack's bands from the 1920s through the 1940s includedBenny Goodman,Bud Freeman,Dick Cathcart,Eddie Miller,Frank Teschemacher,Freddie Slack,Glenn Miller,Charlie Spivak,Harry James,Irving Fazola,Jack Teagarden,Jimmy McPartland,Joe Marsala,Matty Matlock,Muggsy Spanier, andYank Lawson.[5]
Pollack and Doris Robbins, who had no children, were divorced in 1957.[3] In later years, after suffering a series of financial losses, Pollack grew despondent and hanged himself in his home in Palm Springs in 1971.[3][8] He was buried in theHollywood Forever Cemetery.
In 1926, Pollack began recording for theVictor Talking Machine Company. A 1927 newspaper ad promoted "a new Victor organization – Ben Pollack and His Californians."[9]
Pollack left Victor in late 1929 and recorded forHit of the Week (1930), the dime store labels (Banner,Cameo,Domino,Lincoln,Perfect,Romeo) (1930–1931), Victor (1933),Columbia (1933–1934),Brunswick,Vocalion and Variety (1936–37), andDecca (1937–1938).
Most of these records are listed in discographical books (such asBrian Rust'sJazz Records) as by Irving Mills.Jack Teagarden's Music lists them as a "Ben Pollack Unit".
Pollack co-wrote the jazz standard "Tin Roof Blues" in 1923 when he was a member of theNew Orleans Rhythm Kings. The band's trombonistGeorge Brunies is also credited as a composer. In 1954,Jo Stafford recorded "Make Love to Me", which used Pollack's music from "Tin Roof Blues". "Make Love to Me" was No. 1 for three weeks inBillboard magazine and No. 2 inCashbox. The song was also recorded byAnne Murray andB. B. King.
