Bandleader Artie Shaw dies

[Javaman]

Wives included Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Evelyn Keyes, Kathleen Winsor

THOUSAND OAKS, California(AP) -- Artie Shaw, clarinetist and bandleader whose recording of "Begin the Beguine" epitomized the Big Band era, died Thursday at the age of 94, the manager of his orchestra said.

Shaw had been ill for some time, orchestra manager Will Curtis said, but he did not know the specific cause of death.

At his peak in the 1930s and '40s, Shaw pulled in a five-figure salary per week and ranked with Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller as the bandleaders who made music swing. But he left the music world largely behind in the mid-'50s and spent much of the second half of his life devoted to writing and other pursuits.

His band's recording of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" was intended to be the "B" side of the record. Instead, it became a huge hit, topping the charts for six weeks in 1938 and making Shaw famous at age 28.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/30/shaw.obit.ap/index.html

>this guy turned me on to swing music<

[babylonsister]

1. "At his peak in the 30s???

Tell me more.

[izzie]

2. His music was good. My father had a lot of his records out

I did not know he was still alive. All those women are long gone also. They were all big names when I grew up.

[tainted_chimp]

6. I'm pretty sure that Evelyn Keyes is still among us.

She lives in West Hollywood CA.

I saw her a couple of years back at a screening of "The Seven Year Itch". She did a Q&A after the screening, and was just wonderful. So engaging and funny! She was also married to John Huston for a time.

I'm gonna miss Artie Shaw...i love his music. :cry:


here's to both of them! :toast:

[Wapsie B]

3. I didn't know

he was still alive. Big name in music.

[DieboldMustDie]

5. I seem to recall seeing him on TV a few years ago.

I think it was probably in the Ken Burns jazz series. :shrug:

[OneBlueSky]

4. great musician, and a hell of an interesting guy . . .

who just walked away from it all at the height of his popularity . . . couldn't take the shit involved in the music business, so he just went on to other things . . . he'll be missed, but his music will live on . . . RIP . . .

[Swamp Rat]

7. RIP Artie Shaw!

:hi:

[mitchum]

8. Rest In Peace, Artie Shaw

an artist

[flygal]

9. A Liberal concerned for social justice and peace

RIP Mr. Shaw

[dbt]

10. Fly on forever, Artie Shaw.

We will not see the likes of you again Over Here for a long time!

:loveya:
dbt

[0007]

11. The red witch hunt days!

"Shaw was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1953 when it was investigating Communist influence in entertainment. For once, Shaw was contrite, telling committee members he had attended a couple of Communist meetings after the war because of his interest in social justice and world peace

I wonder if he was in a nurseing home when he died?

[Vidar]

12. My favorite big band leader, magnificent musician with a

wonderfully colorful life. Here's hoping he has great gigs on the other side.