Paul Whiteman

Born: 1890-03-28

Paul Whiteman began his musical career as a viola player for the San Francisco Symphony. He enlisted in the Navy during World War I, and his musical abilities resulted in the Navy putting him in charge of his own band. After the war he moved to New York in 1920, where he recorded his first hit, Whispering/The Japanese Sandman. It sold more than two million copies, making Whiteman was an instant star. In 1924 he introduced the George Gershwin classic Rhapsody in Blue, which became the band's signature song. Whiteman had the foresight to hire some of the best jazz musicians of the era, including Red Nichols, Frankie Trumbauer, Tommy Dorsey and Bix Beiderbecke. Bing Crosby got his start with Whiteman in 1929, in a trio called the Rhythm Boys. Whiteman's band continued its run into the 1930s, but toward the end of the decade their popularity began to wane, and in the early 1940s Whiteman took a job as musical director for the American Broadcasting Co., a position he kept into the '60s. He would put together his band every so often during that period, and in the early 1960s they even managed to secure engagements in Las Vegas, after which Whiteman retired. Date of Birth 28 March 1890, Denver, Colorado, USA Date of Death 29 December 1967, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA  (heart attack)


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Atlantic City

as Himself
Released: 1944-09-15

In 1915, Atlantic City is a sleepy seaside resort, but Brad Taylor, son of a small hotel and...

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Hollywood Hotel

as Producer at Callahan's Drive In (uncredited)
Released: 1938-01-15

After losing a coveted role in an upcoming film to another actress, screen queen Mona Marshall...

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Strike Up the Band

as Paul Whiteman
Released: 1940-09-27

Jimmy and Mary get a group of kids together to play in a school orchestra. A huge contest...

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London

as uncredited
Released: 1927-06-20

A Lady adopts a runaway slum girl who resembles her own dead daughter.

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Rhapsody in Blue

as Paul Whiteman
Released: 1945-06-27

Fictionalized biography of George Gershwin and his fight to bring serious music to Broadway.

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Thanks a Million

as Himself - Bandleader
Released: 1935-11-13

A show troupe is engaged by Judge Culliman, who is running for Governor, to enhance his...

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The Fabulous Dorseys

as Paul Whiteman
Released: 1947-02-26

The story of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey from their boyhood in Pennsylvania through their rise, their...

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Birth of the Blues

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1941-11-07

Jeff grows up near Basin Street in New Orleans, playing his clarinet with the dock workers. He...

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King of Jazz

as Paul Whiteman
Released: 1930-04-20

Made during the early years of the movie musical, this exuberant revue was one of the most...

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The Golden Twenties

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1950-04-08

Feature-length compilation of 1920s newsreel footage, with commentary about news, sports,...

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My Pal Paul

as Himself
Released: 1930-06-15

Oswald the Rabbit puts on a concert for a group of barn animals - but when they discover that...

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I Know Everybody and Everybody's Racket

as Self / Orchestra Leader (as Paul Whiteman and Orchestra)
Released: 1933-01-23

Walter Winchell meets a budding country journalist and shows her around the Biltmore Hotel.

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The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

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