Perry Botkin Sr.

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Perry Botkin Sr. (born July 22, 1907 in Richmond , Indiana , † October 14, 1973 in Van Nuys , California ) was an American jazz musician ( guitar , banjo , ukulele ), composer and songwriter .

Perry Botkin, Sr. started his career in the early 1920s with pianist Wayne Euchner, who led a big band in West Baden, Indiana. Around 1928 he participated in the recordings of Phil Napoleon's original Memphis Five . Botkin then became known when he played electric guitar on Hoagy Carmichael's recording of "Hong Kong Blues" and accompanied him with his big band; this was one of the earliest recordings to use this instrument. He had subsequently also in disk recordings of Al Jolson , Connee Boswell , Eddie Cantor , Glenn Miller , Benny Goodman , Paul Whiteman , Bob Hope , Fred Astaire , Spike Jones ( "Clink Clink, Another Drink"), the Dorsey Brothers and Roy Rogers to .

He was also musical director for Bing Crosby for 17 years , as an actor ( The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet ), composer, songwriter and virtuoso on the ukulele (as in Birth of the Blues (1941) and Main Street to Broadway (1953)) active. In the 1950s he worked mainly in Hollywood studios; so he wrote and played the film music for Death Comes on Quiet Shoes ( Murder by Contract , 1958). His most famous title was "Elly Mae's Theme", which he wrote for the Beverly Hillbillies . His son Perry Botkin Jr. was a well-known producer for RCA Victor .

Discography

  • The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise (Decca L 6346)
  • Botkin's Banjo Band (Decca L 6351)

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