Home > Jean Goldkette

He led many jazz and dance bands, of which the best known was his Victor Recording Orchestra of 1924 – 1929, which included, at various times, Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael, Jimmy DorseyJames "Jimmy" Dorsey ( February 29, 1904 June 12, 1957) was a prominent jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and big band leader. Jimmy Dorsey was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, the son of a music teacher and older brother of Tommy Dorsey who also became a pr, Tommy DorseyTommy Dorsey ( November 19, 1905 November 26, 1956) was a jazz trombonist in the Big Band era. Thomas Dorsey was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania and is the younger brother of Jimmy Dorsey. He worked with many bands in the New York City area starting in t, Eddie LangEddie Lang ( October 25, 1902 March 26, 1933) was a jazz guitarist, considered by many the finest of his era. Lang was born Salvatore Massaro the son of an Italian-American instrument maker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At first he studied to learn violi, Frankie TrumbauerFrankie (Tram) Trumbauer ( 1901 1956) was one of the leading jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s. He played C-melody saxophone, which in size is between an alto and tenor saxophone. He was recruited by Bix Beiderbecke for Jean Goldkette's Victor Reco, Pee Wee RussellCharles Ellsworth Russell much better known by his nickname Pee Wee Russell ( 27 March, 1906 15 February, 1969) was a jazz clarinetist and saxophone musician. Russell was born in Maple Wood, Missouri and grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma. In Muskogee about 19, Steve Brown, and Joe Venuti, among others. In his Jazz Masters of the Thirties, Rex StewartRex Stewart ( 1907 1967) was an American jazz cornetist best known for his work with the Duke Ellington orchestra. After stints with Elmer Snowden, Fletcher Henderson, Horace Henderson, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and Luis Russell, Stewart joined the Ellin, a member of Fletcher Henderson's band at the time, writes that the Goldkette band's innovative arrangements and strong rhythm made it the best dance band of its day and "the first original white swing band in jazz history."

In 1927 Paul Whiteman hired away most of Goldkette's better players. Goldkette later helped organize McKinney's Cotton Pickers and the Orange Blossoms, which became famous as the Casa Loma Orchestra. In the 1930s he left jazz to work as a booking agent and classical pianist.

He moved to California in 1961 and the following year died in Santa Barbara, California.