Whiteman, Paul. (1890–1967)
Signed Photograph
Signed photograph of the influential orchestral leader and self-dubbed "King of Jazz," who has inscribed "For George/ Paul Whiteman." Unevenly trimmed along left side, toning to edges, light surface creases and dents, else fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.).As the leader of one of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920's and 1930's, Whiteman produced recordings that were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz". Using a large ensemble and exploring many styles of music, Whiteman is perhaps best known for his blending of symphonic music and jazz, as typified by his 1924 commissioning and debut of George Gershwin's jazz-influenced "Rhapsody in Blue". Although he played an integral part in bringing jazz to the masses, and introduced many of jazz's future stars (including Bix Beiderbecke, Tommy Dorsey, Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang), by the end of the 1930s his star had begun to fade.
From the collection of George Gaber (1916–2007), noted percussionist who performed with a number of professional ensembles, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Baltimore Symphony and worked with Leonard Bernstein, Otto Klemperer, Igor Stravinsky, Henry Mancini, Duke Ellington and many others over the span of his career. From 1960 to 1986 taught percussion at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and was also an artist in residence at Carnegie Mellon University, an adjudicator for National Music Arts in Japan and the Canadian Music Competition, and a Hall of Fame recipient in Percussion Arts Society.
Signed Photograph Jazz