Jan Garber
Encyclopedia
Jan Garber was an American jazz
bandleader.
, Indiana
. He had his own band by the time he was 21 (around 1917). He became known as "The Idol of the Airwaves" in his heyday of the 1920s and 1930s, playing jazz in the vein of contemporaries such as Paul Whiteman
and Guy Lombardo
. Garber played violin with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra after World War I
and formed the Garber-Davis Orchestra with pianist Milton Davis from 1921–1924. After parting with Davis, he formed his own orchestra, playing both "sweet" and "hot" 1920s dance music. He was hit hard by the Great Depression
, and in the 1930s, he refashioned his ensemble into a big band
and recorded a string of successful records for Victor. During World War II
, Garber began playing swing jazz, a rather unexpected turn; his arranger during this time was Gray Rains and his vocalist was Liz Tilton
. The recording restrictions in America during the war eventually made his ensemble unfeasible, and he returned to "sweet" music after the war, continuing to lead ensembles nearly up until the time of his death in Shreveport, Louisiana
, in 1977.
when he was three months old, and lived there until he was 13. The family then moved to a small town near Philadelphia. He was the tenth of 12 children.
Garber studied Violin at Combs Conservatory in Philadelphia.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
bandleader.
Biography
Garber was born in IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He had his own band by the time he was 21 (around 1917). He became known as "The Idol of the Airwaves" in his heyday of the 1920s and 1930s, playing jazz in the vein of contemporaries such as Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
and Guy Lombardo
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
. Garber played violin with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and formed the Garber-Davis Orchestra with pianist Milton Davis from 1921–1924. After parting with Davis, he formed his own orchestra, playing both "sweet" and "hot" 1920s dance music. He was hit hard by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, and in the 1930s, he refashioned his ensemble into a big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
and recorded a string of successful records for Victor. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Garber began playing swing jazz, a rather unexpected turn; his arranger during this time was Gray Rains and his vocalist was Liz Tilton
Liz Tilton
Liz Tilton was an American vocalist.The younger sister of Martha Tilton, she sang with Ken Baker in the 1930s and with Buddy Rogers later in her career. Liz Tilton also appeared with Bob Crosby in 1941 and Jan Garber in 1942....
. The recording restrictions in America during the war eventually made his ensemble unfeasible, and he returned to "sweet" music after the war, continuing to lead ensembles nearly up until the time of his death in Shreveport, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, in 1977.
Selected discography
Garber recorded over 750 records, five full-length films, several movie shorts, and various TV appearances.- Street of Dreams – DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(DL 4191 and 74191 (stereo)) – (19xx) - College Songs Everybody Knows – DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(DL 4319) – (19xx) - Dance to the Songs Everybody Knows – DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(DL 4119 and 74119 (stereo)) – (19xx) - Catalina Nights – DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(DL 4032 and 74032 (stereo)) – (19xx) - You Stepped Out of a Dream – DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(DL 4143 and 74143 (stereo)) – (19xx) - Everybody Dance with Jan Garber and His Orchestra – DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(DL 4066 and 74066 (stereo)) – (19xx) - Dance Program – DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(DL 4196 and 74196 (stereo)) – (19xx)
Former band members
- Verne ByersVerne ByersVerne Byers, aka Vern Byers, was an American bandleader of a territory band, a bassist, a concert promoter, and an owner-operator of several live music clubs and restaurants in Denver...
(bass) - Julio Maro (singer)
- Steve BrooksSteve BrooksSteve Brooks or Stephen Brooks may refer to:*Steve Brooks , American Hall of Fame jockey*Steve Brooks , American folk singer/songwriter*Steve Brooks , British statistician...
(singer) - Janis M. Garber (daughter/singer; aka Kitty Thomas)
- Freddie Large (saxophone, from 1932)
- Frank Macauley (bass, from 1934)
- Loren Holding (saxophone)
- Jack Gifford (singer)
- Thelma Gracen (singer)
- Julie Vernon (singer)
- Bob HamesBob HamesRobert "Bob" Earl Hames was an American jazz guitarist best known for being a staff guitarist for live productions at WFAA-TV in the early 1950s...
(guitar) - Don CherryDon Cherry (singer/golfer)Donald Ross Cherry is an American singer of traditional pop music, best known for his 1955 hit, "Band of Gold"; and a former amateur and professional golfer.-Biography:...
(singer) - Frank Bettencourt (trombone, conductor & arranger)
Family
Garber moved with his family from Indianapolis to Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
when he was three months old, and lived there until he was 13. The family then moved to a small town near Philadelphia. He was the tenth of 12 children.
Garber studied Violin at Combs Conservatory in Philadelphia.
- Wife – Dorothy Comegys (born November 4, 1907, Shreveport, LA; married Garber December 18, 1926; died January 27, 2001, Shreveport, LA)
- Daughter – Janis Garber (singer, in Las Vegas)
- Brother – Myron Garber
- Brother – David S. Garber
- Brother - Max Garber
External links
- [ Jan Garber] at Allmusic.com
- Big Band Database (scroll down)