Will Bradley | |
|---|---|
 Will Bradley in a 1942 advertisement | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Wilbur Schwichtenberg (1912-07-12)July 12, 1912 Newton, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | (1989-07-15)July 15, 1989 (aged 77) Flemington, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Big band,boogie-woogie |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Trombone |
Wilbur Schwichtenberg (July 12, 1912 – July 15, 1989),[1] known professionally asWill Bradley, was an American trombonist and bandleader during the 1930s and 1940s. He performed swing, dance music, andboogie-woogie songs, many of them written or co-written byDon Raye.
Born inNewton, New Jersey, Wilbur Schwichtenberg was raised inWashington, New Jersey.[2] In 1928, he moved to New York City and became a member of bands such asRed Nichols & His Five Pennies.[3] During the 1930s, except for one year with theRay Noble orchestra,[4] he wasstudio musician forCBS Radio, and was the resident hot trombonist on the network's popularjam sessionThe Saturday Night Swing Club. He also led the studio band for theSummer Silver Theater on CBS in 1941, withEd Sullivan as the show's host.[5]
In 1939, he changed his name from Wilbur Schwichtenberg to Will Bradley, and started a big band withRay McKinley,[2] a swing drummer and vocalist from Texas. The band includedFreddie Slack (piano),Arthur Rollini (saxophone),Peanuts Hucko (clarinet), andPete Candoli (trumpet). Vocalists includedTerry Allen, Carlotta Dale, Lynn Gardner,Steve Jordan, Ray McKinley, Phyllis Myles, Larry Southern, and Jimmy Valentine.[4]
The Bradley band became well known for boogie-woogie, particularly with its hit record, "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar".[6] The song reached the top ten ofBillboard magazine's popular music chart, as did "Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie Beat" and "Down the Road a Piece". The latter song was recorded by the Will Bradley Trio (McKinley on drums, Slack on piano, andDoc Goldberg on bass), with the vocal by songwriter Don Raye.
James Roosevelt introduced a new concept in filmed entertainment: three-minute musicalSoundies filmed for coin-operated "movie jukeboxes." Will Bradley was one of the first bandleaders to work in Soundies (in December 1940; the others wereVincent Lopez andRay Kinney).[7]
In 1942, McKinley departed the Bradley outfit to form his own band,[3] and Slack followed suit that same year. Bradley hired trumpeterShorty Rogers and drummerShelly Manne, but many members were drafted into the armed forces. Bradley dissolved his big band[3] and returned to broadcasting. He remained in demand as a recording-studio musician; in the mid-forties he recorded as "Will Bradley and His Boogie Woogie Boys," and he filmed more Soundies in 1944, leading a nine-piece combo. He played trombone forJimmy Dorsey's hit record "So Rare". In December 1954 he signed withNBC Radio's flagship station in New York,WRCA, joining many veterans of the big-band era to provide live music on the air.[8] He continued to work in radio and television, including music for commercials.
In 1956, Will Bradley's former drummer Ray McKinley -- who had assumed leadership of the Miller band in 1945 -- formed a new Glenn Miller Orchestra at the request ofGlenn Miller's widow Helen. McKinley recruited Bradley as featured trombonist. They remained with the Miller band until 1966, when Helen Miller died.
Will Bradley died on July 15, 1989, inFlemington, New Jersey, three days after his 77th birthday.[4]
WithRay McKinley
WithCharlie Parker
WithNelson Riddle
WithRuth Brown
Chart singles
