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)
Filmography
all 21
Movies 18
self 15
TV Shows 3
Producer 1
The Big Party (1959)
America's Greatest Bands (1955)
The Golden Twenties (1950)
The Lambertville Story (1949)
The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)
The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
Atlantic City (1944)
Birth of the Blues (1941)
Strike Up the Band (1940)
Hollywood Hotel (1938)
Thanks a Million (1935)
I Know Everybody and Everybody's Racket (1933)
Spooks (1930)
Not So Quiet (1930)
My Pal Paul (1930)
Hells Heels (1930)
King of Jazz (1930)
The Voice of Hollywood No. 3 (1930)
Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 11 (1930)
London (1927)
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1891-03-28
Deathday1967-12-29 (76 years old)
Birth NamePaul Samuel Whiteman
Birth PlaceDenver, United States of America
SpouseMargaret Livingston
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsThe King of Jazz, Paul Samuel Whiteman
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame
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