Paul Whiteman

Paul Whiteman

Biography: Paul Whiteman began his musical career as a viola player for the San Francisco Symphony. He enlisted in the Navy during World War I, and his musical abilities resulted in the Navy putting him in charge of his own band. After the war he moved to New York in 1920, where he recorded his first hit, Whispering/The Japanese Sandman. It sold more than two million copies, making Whiteman was an instant star. In 1924 he introduced the George Gershwin classic Rhapsody in Blue, which became the band's signature song. Whiteman had the foresight to hire some of the best jazz musicians of the era, including Red Nichols, Frankie Trumbauer, Tommy Dorsey and Bix Beiderbecke. Bing Crosby got his start with Whiteman in 1929, in a trio called the Rhythm Boys. Whiteman's band continued its run into the 1930s, but toward the end of the decade their popularity began to wane, and in the early 1940s Whiteman took a job as musical director for the American Broadcasting Co., a position he kept into the '60s. He would put together his band every so often during that period, and in the early 1960s they even managed to secure engagements in Las Vegas, after which Whiteman retired. Date of Birth 28 March 1890, Denver, Colorado, USA Date of Death 29 December 1967, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA  (heart attack)

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: March 28, 1890

Deathday: December 29, 1967

Popularity:

0.546

Known For

The Fabulous Dorseys
The Fabulous Dorseys

1947-02-26

Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue

1945-06-27

Hollywood Hotel
Hollywood Hotel

1938-01-15

Birth of the Blues
Birth of the Blues

1941-11-07

Thanks a Million
Thanks a Million

1935-11-13

Atlantic City
Atlantic City

1944-09-15

London
London

1927-06-20

Strike Up the Band
Strike Up the Band

1940-09-27

The Golden Twenties
The Golden Twenties

1950-04-08

King of Jazz
King of Jazz

1930-04-20

I Know Everybody and Everybody's Racket
I Know Everybody and Everybody's Racket

1933-01-23

My Pal Paul
My Pal Paul

1930-06-15

The Voice of Hollywood No. 3
The Voice of Hollywood No. 3

1930-01-31

The Lambertville Story
The Lambertville Story

1949-05-20