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Phil Spitalny

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Phil Spitalny
Background information
Born(1890-11-07)November 7, 1890,
Tetiev, Ukraine (Russian Empire)
DiedOctober 11, 1970(1970-10-11) (aged 79)
Miami Beach, Florida
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)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.

Radio

He led orchestras under the name Phil Spitalny and His All-Girl Orchestra, beginning with Hour of Charm Orchestra on his radio program 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.[1][2]

The orchestra made a guest appearance in the Abbot and Costello movie Here Come the Co-Eds in 1945.[1] Spitalny also appeared in When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1942) and on Ed Sullivan's television program Toast of the Town.[citation needed]

Spitalny wrote music with Gus Kahn, jazz musician Lee "Stubby" Gordon[3]

Last years and death

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

Spitalny has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Eder, Bruce. "Phil Spitalny". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ Sheldon Harris Sheet Music Collection, University of Mississippi Libraries, olemiss.edu; accessed April 25, 2015.