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{{Short description|Ukrainian-American musician (1890–1970)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Phil Spitalny
| name = Phil Spitalny
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| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1890|11|7}},
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1890|11|7}},
| birth_place = [[Tetiev]], [[Ukraine]] ([[Russian Empire]])
| birth_place = [[Tetiiv]], [[Russian Empire]] (now [[Ukraine]])
| death_date = {{death date and age|1970|10|11 |1890|11|7|mf=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1970|10|11 |1890|11|7|mf=yes}}
| death_place = [[Miami Beach, Florida|Miami Beach]], Florida
| death_place = [[Miami Beach, Florida|Miami Beach]], Florida, U.S.
| genre = [[Jazz]]
| genre = [[Jazz]]
| occupation = Musician, bandleader, composer
| occupation = Musician, bandleader, composer
}}
}}


'''Phil Spitalny''' (November 7, 1890 – October 11, 1970) was a musician, music critic, composer, and bandleader heard often on radio during the 1930s–40s. He rose to fame after he led an all-female orchestra, a novelty at the time.
'''Phil Spitalny''' (November 7, 1890 – October 11, 1970) was a Russian Empire-born American musician, music critic, composer, and bandleader heard often on radio during the 1930s and 1940s. He rose to fame after he led an all-female orchestra, a novelty at the time.


==Early years==
==Early years==
Spitalny was born in [[Odessa]] and was a student at the Odessa Conservatory of Music. A child prodigy on clarinet, he toured Russia and came to the United States in 1905.<ref name=nyt/>
Spitalny was born into a Jewish family of musicians in [[Tetiiv]], [[Russian Empire]] and later was a student at the Odessa Conservatory of Music. A child prodigy on clarinet, he toured Russia and came to the United States in 1905<ref name="nyt" /> or 1906.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phil Spitalny |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103667506/phil-spitalny-1890-1970/ |work=The Californian |date=October 13, 1970 |location=Salinas, CA |page=8 |accessdate=June 13, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>


==Orchestra==
==Orchestra==
After playing with bands in Cleveland, Spitalny moved to Boston to direct the orchestra at a theater. Later, he returned to Cleveland, where he led his own orchestra, then went to New York to lead the orchestra at the Pennsylvania Hotel.<ref name="nyt" /> For two years, he conducted the orchestra at the [[Benedum Center|Stanley Theatre]] in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<ref name="pp">{{cite news|last1=Monahan|first1=Kaspar|title=Girl Band Maestro Retires|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19792335/phil_spitalny/|work=The Pittsburgh Press|date=March 16, 1958|location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh|page=Amusements - 1|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = May 3, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref>
After playing with bands in Cleveland, Spitalny moved to Boston to direct the orchestra at a theater. Later, he returned to Cleveland, where he led his own orchestra, then went to New York to lead the orchestra at the Pennsylvania Hotel.<ref name="nyt" /> For two years, he conducted the orchestra at the [[Benedum Center|Stanley Theatre]] in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<ref name="pp">{{cite news|last1=Monahan|first1=Kaspar|title=Girl Band Maestro Retires|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19792335/phil_spitalny/|work=The Pittsburgh Press|date=March 16, 1958|location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh|page=Amusements - 1|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = May 3, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref>


He led orchestras under the name Phil Spitalny and His All-Girl Orchestra, beginning with [[Hour of Charm Orchestra]] on his radio program ''[[The Hour of Charm]]'' in 1934. Spitalny and [[Evelyn Kaye|Evelyn Kaye Klein]] auditioned over one thousand women to fill the twenty-two piece orchestra. Klein was the featured performer, a virtuoso violinist introduced as Evelyn and her Magic Violin. The program lasted for over ten years on radio. He and Klein married in 1946.<ref name="Eder">{{cite web|last1=Eder|first1=Bruce|title=Phil Spitalny|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/phil-spitalny-mn0001008311/biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=1 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Behrens2011">{{citation|last=Behrens|first=John|title=America's Music Makers: Big Bands & Ballrooms 1912-2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GKgJNIaWn1IC&pg=PA36|accessdate=August 31, 2017|date=March 2011|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-4567-2952-3|pages=36–}}</ref>
He led orchestras under the name Phil Spitalny and His All-Girl Orchestra, beginning with [[Hour of Charm Orchestra]] on his radio program ''[[The Hour of Charm]]'' in 1934. Spitalny and [[Evelyn Kaye|Evelyn Kaye Klein]] auditioned over one thousand women to fill the twenty-two piece orchestra. Klein was the featured performer, a virtuoso violinist introduced as Evelyn and her Magic Violin. The program lasted for over ten years on radio. He and Klein married in 1946.<ref name="Eder">{{cite web|last1=Eder|first1=Bruce|title=Phil Spitalny|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/phil-spitalny-mn0001008311/biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=1 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Behrens2011">{{citation|last=Behrens|first=John|title=America's Music Makers: Big Bands & Ballrooms 1912–2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GKgJNIaWn1IC&pg=PA36|accessdate=August 31, 2017|date=March 2011|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-4567-2952-3|pages=36–}}</ref>


The orchestra made a guest appearance in the [[Abbot and Costello]] movie ''[[Here Come the Co-Eds]]'' in 1945.<ref name="Eder"/> Spitalny also appeared in ''When Johnny Comes Marching Home'' (1942) and on Ed Sullivan's television program ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show|Toast of the Town]]''.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
The orchestra made a guest appearance in the [[Abbott and Costello]] movie ''[[Here Come the Co-Eds]]'' in 1945.<ref name="Eder" /> Spitalny also appeared in ''[[When Johnny Comes Marching Home (film)|When Johnny Comes Marching Home]]'' (1942) and on Ed Sullivan's television program ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show|Toast of the Town]]''.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}


==Composing==
==Composing==
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==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of old-time radio people]]
*[[List of old-time American radio people]]


==References==
==References==
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{{commons category|Phil Spitalny}}
{{commons category|Phil Spitalny}}
*{{Find a Grave|22991}}
*{{Find a Grave|22991}}
* [https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110582 Phil Spitalny recordings] at the [[Discography of American Historical Recordings]].

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:American jazz violinists]]
[[Category:American jazz violinists]]
[[Category:Big band bandleaders]]
[[Category:Big band bandleaders]]
[[Category:20th-century violinists]]
[[Category:20th-century American violinists]]
[[Category:Ukrainian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States]]
[[Category:American people of Ukrainian descent]]
[[Category:American male composers]]
[[Category:American male composers]]
[[Category:American music critics]]
[[Category:American music critics]]
[[Category:Male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]

Latest revision as of 20:37, 14 February 2024

Phil Spitalny
Background information
Born(1890-11-07)November 7, 1890,
Tetiiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
DiedOctober 11, 1970(1970-10-11) (aged 79)
Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader, composer

Phil Spitalny (November 7, 1890 – October 11, 1970) was a Russian Empire-born American musician, music critic, composer, and bandleader heard often on radio during the 1930s and 1940s. He rose to fame after he led an all-female orchestra, a novelty at the time.

Early years

[edit]

Spitalny was born into a Jewish family of musicians in Tetiiv, Russian Empire and later was a student at the Odessa Conservatory of Music. A child prodigy on clarinet, he toured Russia and came to the United States in 1905[1] or 1906.[2]

Orchestra

[edit]

After playing with bands in Cleveland, Spitalny moved to Boston to direct the orchestra at a theater. Later, he returned to Cleveland, where he led his own orchestra, then went to New York to lead the orchestra at the Pennsylvania Hotel.[1] For two years, he conducted the orchestra at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[3]

He led orchestras under the name Phil Spitalny and His All-Girl Orchestra, beginning with Hour of Charm Orchestra on his radio program The Hour of Charm in 1934. Spitalny and Evelyn Kaye Klein auditioned over one thousand women to fill the twenty-two piece orchestra. Klein was the featured performer, a virtuoso violinist introduced as Evelyn and her Magic Violin. The program lasted for over ten years on radio. He and Klein married in 1946.[4][5]

The orchestra made a guest appearance in the Abbott and Costello movie Here Come the Co-Eds in 1945.[4] Spitalny also appeared in When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1942) and on Ed Sullivan's television program Toast of the Town.[citation needed]

Composing

[edit]

Spitalny wrote music with Gus Kahn, jazz musician Lee “Stubby” Gordon[6] His compositions include “Enchanted Forest”, “It's You, No One But You”, “Madelaine”, “Pining for You”, “Save the Last Dance for Me”, and “The Kiss I Can't Forget”.[1]

Last years and death

[edit]

In retirement in Miami Beach, Spitalny was a music critic for a Miami newspaper. He died of cancer in Miami Beach in 1970 at the age of 79.[citation needed]

Legacy

[edit]

Spitalny has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Phil Spitalny, Leader of All‐Girl Orchestra, Dies at 80". The New York Times. New York, New York City. October 12, 1970. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Phil Spitalny". The Californian. Salinas, CA. October 13, 1970. p. 8. Retrieved June 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Monahan, Kaspar (March 16, 1958). "Girl Band Maestro Retires". The Pittsburgh Press. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. p. Amusements - 1. Retrieved May 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b Eder, Bruce. "Phil Spitalny". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  5. ^ Behrens, John (March 2011), America's Music Makers: Big Bands & Ballrooms 1912–2011, AuthorHouse, pp. 36–, ISBN 978-1-4567-2952-3, retrieved August 31, 2017
  6. ^ [1]Sheldon Harris Sheet Music Collection, University of Mississippi Libraries Archived 2007-03-22 at the Wayback Machine, olemiss.edu; accessed April 25, 2015.
[edit]
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