Ben Pollack
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Ben Pollack (born June 22, 1903 in Chicago , † June 7, 1971 in Palm Springs ) was an American jazz drummer and band leader.
Live and act
Pollack began his musical career in the early 1920s and became known as a member of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings , with whom he stayed for three years and recorded his first record in 1922. In 1924 he moved to the west coast of the USA , where he formed his first band in early 1925, with which he performed in the Venice Ballroom ; In 1926 a larger orchestra was founded under his name, which played first in Chicago at the Southmore Hotel and then for a year in New York's Park Central . This first big white band had a lot of success in the following years and helped many later well-known soloists and band leaders, including Glenn Miller , Benny Goodman , Harry James , Yank Lawson , Charlie Spivak and Jack Teagarden , to their own careers. The first of eleven hit hits was " Sweet Sue, Just You " in July 1928. In the 1930s and 1940s, however, there were frequent staff changes and even complete dissolution of his orchestra, as Pollack came into conflict with the soloists. A tour to the west coast in 1935 ended with the musicians returning without Pollack and eventually forming the core of the band then founded by Bob Crosby . During the last recording session with Harry James in September 1936, Pollack's last chart success was "Thru 'the Courtesy of Love". Benny Goodman discovered James through these recordings and hired him.
In 1942 Pollack worked with Chico Marx, first as co-leader of the Chico Marx Orchestra , then as manager; this band, in which the young Mel Tormé also worked as a drummer, broke up in July 1943.
Then Pollack founded a talent agency and a record label Jewel , which, however, had little success. In 1956 he worked in the film The Benny Goodman Story . In the 50s and 60s his fame faded, he worked in the restaurant business in Hollywood and later in Palm Springs. He performed occasionally - mostly with Dixieland bands, such as Pollack's Pick-a-Rib Boys ; In 1968 he took part in the Monterey Jazz Festival with the Southern California Jazz Club All Stars . Ben Pollack, increasingly troubled by financial difficulties, committed suicide in 1971.
literature
- Carlo Bohländer , Karl Heinz Holler: Reclams Jazzführer (= Reclams Universal Library. No. 10185/10196). Reclam, Stuttgart 1970, ISBN 3-15-010185-9 .
- Leonard Feather , Ira Gitler : The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press, New York 1999, ISBN 0-19-532000-X .
- Leo Walker: The Big Band Almanac. Ward Ritchie Press, Pasadena 1978.
- Robert P. Vande Kappelle: Blue Notes: Profiles of Jazz Personalities , Eugene OR, 2011, chap. "Ben Pollack".
Web links
- Biography in the Bigband Library
Individual evidence
- ↑ All plates 78er. Individual references for US Billboard Black: Gerhard Klußmeier: Jazz in the Charts. Another view on jazz history. Liner notes and booklet for the 100 CD edition. Membrane International, ISBN 978-3-86735-062-4 .
- ↑ See Gerhard Klußmeier: Jazz in the Charts. Another view on jazz history. (Liner notes; 28/100)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Pollack, Ben |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz drummer and band leader |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 22, 1903 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Chicago , Illinois, USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 7th 1971 |
| Place of death | Palm Springs , California, USA |