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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHUNT, Pee Wee(b Walter Hunt, 10 May '07, Mt Healthy OH; d 22 June '79, Plymouth MA) Trombone, vocalist, bandleader. Took up banjo in college; with Jean Goldkette late '27-early '28; in a theatre orchestra, then became founder member of the Casa Loma Orchestra '29-43, featured on vocals incl. recorded duet with Louis Armstrong '38. Became a disc jockey, joined the Merchant Marine, formed own small band on West Coast '46 and had a novelty no. 1 hit '48 with a purposely corny version of dixieland chestnut "12th Street Rag'. A nicer record, a danceable revival of a '19 pop song "Oh!', was a surprise hit '53 at no. 3 and 23 weeks in the charts. |