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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 ZBERIGAN, Bunny(b Roland Bernard Berigan, 2 Nov. '08, Hilbert, Calumet County WI; d 2 June '42, NYC) Trumpet, bandleader. Gigged in college bands and played on trips to NYC; doubled on violin until '27. Joined Hal Kemp NYC '30 incl. European tour; studio and freelance work and with Smith Ballew summer '31, Paul Whiteman '32--3, Benny Goodman '35, Tommy Dorsey '37, own band '37--40. Went bankrupt, led small group, another big band, but alcoholism was killing him: he could no longer play his own best solos. Loved by everyone who knew him, he was no businessman and his capacity for liquor was legendary. Best solos: 'King Porter Stomp', 'Sometimes I'm Happy', 'Blue Skies' with Goodman; 'Song Of India', 'Marie' with Dorsey; 'Prisoner's Song', 'I Can't Get Started' with his own band. 'Marie' was one of the most famous solos of the whole era; 'I Can't Get Started' was recorded twice: second version on Victor '37 was issued on a 12]im[ 78 incl. a homely vocal and an intro modelled after Louis Armstrong's 'West End Blues': one of the biggest hits of the year. Finest white trumpeter of the Swing Era, perhaps second only to Armstrong in the bravura style, and like Louis unusually capable in the lower registers. Won a '39 poll with five times as many votes as best competitor. Armstrong was reportedly reluctant to record 'I Can't Get Started', saying, 'That's Bunny's tune.' Complete Victor material '37--40 reissued on Bluebird (RCA), two-LP sets flawed by the fact that Berigan's band recorded so many second-rate tunes. |