Jan Garber

Jan Garber, c. 1942

Jan Garber (born Jacob Charles Garber,[1] November 5, 1894 – October 5, 1977) was an American jazz bandleader.

Biography

Garber was born in Indianapolis, 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 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 until 1971. His last show was in Houston. Garber died in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1977 after having been ill for a length of time.[2]

Radio

Called the "Idol of the Airwaves," Garber was active on radio in the 1920s and 1930s. The table below shows some of his broadcasting activities.[3]

Year Group's Name Station or Network
1922 Garber's Swiss Garden Orchestra WLW
1926 Jan Garber and His Musical Clowns WLW
1929 Jan Garber and His Musical Clowns WABC (CBS)
1933 Jan Garber Orchestra NBC
1934 Jan Garber Orchestra KLRA
1935-36 Jan Garber Orchestra WOR
1939 Jan Garber Orchestra Mutual

Garber also had a 15-minute, five-days-a-week radio program, the Jan Garber Show. It was distributed by Capitol Transcriptions.[4] He appeared numerous times on the Burns and Allen radio show.[2]

Discography

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Garber recorded over 750 records, five full-length films, several movie shorts, and various TV appearances.

Former band members

Family

Garber moved with his family from Indianapolis to Louisville, Kentucky 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.[11]

Garber studied Violin at Combs Conservatory in Philadelphia.

  • Daughter – Janis Garber (singer, in Las Vegas)

External links

References

  1. ↑ Form I (Draft Card A), Registration No. 1428, WWI Draft Registration Card 3, was a violinist, employed by New Willard Hotel, resided at 1825 F St., NW, Washington, DC
  2. 1 2 "Jan Garber's Services in La.". Billboard. October 15, 1977. p. 14. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 248.
  4. ↑ "(Capitol Transcriptions ad)" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 1, 1948. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Capital Record Catalog No: 804, Matrix 5285-Z
  6. ↑ Capital Record Catalog No: 804, Matrix 5284-Y
  7. ↑ Double Ep record in my possession
  8. ↑ record in my possession
  9. ↑ record in my possession
  10. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/1944-Swing-Band-Vol-1/dp/B000009PTS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1406908573&sr=8-3&keywords=jan+garber+swing+band
  11. ↑ Jan Garber Orchestra Held Over at Mapes, Reno Evening Gazette, August 28, 1964 Reno, Nevada
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