Joe Bushkin
Encyclopedia
Joe Bushkin was an American jazz pianist
.
He began his career by playing trumpet and piano with New York City dance bands. He joined Bunny Berigan
's band in 1935, then left to join Muggsy Spanier
's Ragtime Band in 1939. From the late 1930s through to the late 1940s he also worked with Eddie Condon
on records, radio and TV. After service in WWII he worked with Louis Armstrong
and Benny Goodman
.
He might be best known for co-writing "Oh! Look at Me Now
", with John DeVries, when he worked in Tommy Dorsey
's band. That song would become Frank Sinatra
's first hit. In his 60s Bing Crosby
ended Bushkin's semi-retirement with an offer for them to tour together.
Bushkin died in 2004.
Jazz piano
Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instrument's combined melodic and harmonic capabilities...
.
He began his career by playing trumpet and piano with New York City dance bands. He joined Bunny Berigan
Bunny Berigan
Rowland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan was an American jazz trumpeter who rose to fame during the swing era, but whose virtuosity and influence were shortened by a losing battle with alcoholism that ended in his early death at age 33. He composed the jazz instrumentals "Chicken and Waffles" and "Blues"...
's band in 1935, then left to join Muggsy Spanier
Muggsy Spanier
Francis Joseph Julian "Muggsy" Spanier was a prominent cornet player based in Chicago. He was renowned as the best trumpet/cornet in Chicago until Bix Beiderbecke entered the scene....
's Ragtime Band in 1939. From the late 1930s through to the late 1940s he also worked with Eddie Condon
Eddie Condon
Albert Edwin Condon , better known as Eddie Condon, was a jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bandleader. A leading figure in the so-called "Chicago school" of early Dixieland, he also played piano and sang on occasion....
on records, radio and TV. After service in WWII he worked with Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
and Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
.
He might be best known for co-writing "Oh! Look at Me Now
Oh! Look at Me Now
"Oh! Look at Me Now" is a 1941 song composed by Joe Bushkin, with lyrics by John DeVries. It is strongly associated with Frank Sinatra, who first recorded it with Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, in an arrangement by Sy Oliver...
", with John DeVries, when he worked in Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
's band. That song would become Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
's first hit. In his 60s Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
ended Bushkin's semi-retirement with an offer for them to tour together.
Bushkin died in 2004.