Ben Bernie
American jazz violinist, bandleader, and radio personality.
via Wikipedia: Ben Bernie · see source
The jazz violinist, bandleader, and radio personality known as "The Old Maestro" was Benjamin Anzelevitz, who performed as Ben Bernie.[1] Benjamin Anzelevitz, later known as Ben Bernie, first opened his eyes in Bayonne, New Jersey on May 30, 1891.[1][2] A pulmonary embolism ended his life in October 1943 when he was 52 years old.[3]
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Benjamin Anzelevitz
- Born
- 30 May 1891
- Birthplace
- Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
- Died
- 23 October 1943
- Place of death
- Hollywood, California, U.S.
- Genre
- Jazz
- big band
- traditional pop
- Occupation
- Musician
- composer
- bandleader
- radio personality
- Instrument
- Violin
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
He met little success until 1922 when he joined his first orchestra.[4] Bernie and his orchestra were heard on the first NBC broadcast via remote from the Hotel Roosevelt on November 15, 1926.[1] His theme song was "It's a Lonesome Old Town" and his catchphrase "yowsah, yowsah, yowsah" became a national saying.[5] He married Rose Harris on December 24, 1915, and they had a son, Jason H. Bernie.[2]
Before age 15, Bernie had already studied at Columbia University and the New York College of Music, and by that age he was giving violin lessons.[1] During 1912, Bernie and Charles Klass teamed up as The Fiddle Up Boys for vaudeville; later, he formed the duo Baker and Bernie with Phil Baker.[4] The Broadway musical Here's Howe featured Bernie in 1928, where he portrayed the character Dan Danny.[1] Dorothy P. Wesley became Bernie's second wife in October 1935, with the wedding taking place in Miami, Florida.[2]
What the cited sources add
His Hollywood Walk of Fame star at 6280 Hollywood Boulevard was dedicated on February 8, 1960.[6] According to a 1996 biographical dictionary, his early stint as a violin teacher temporarily reduced his enthusiasm for playing the instrument.[1] The same 1996 biographical dictionary mentions his November 15, 1926 NBC broadcast from the Hotel Roosevelt and his 1928 Broadway role in Here's Howe.[1]
References
- Wikipedia, "Ben Bernie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 32. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Ben Bernie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Ben Bernie, Band Leader, Is Dead", October 20, 1943, p. 2 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Ben Bernie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Ben Bernie Rites Attended By 1,200 - Friends of Stage, Screen and Radio Say 'Au Revoir' Here to the 'Old Maestro'", The New York Times, October 29, 1943, p. 22 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Ben Bernie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Empress New Show Big Hit", The Wichita Eagle, December 31, 1912, p. 9; "The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music", Guinness Publishing, 1992, p. 228/9 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Ben Bernie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music", Guinness Publishing, 1992, p. 228/9 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Ben Bernie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Ben Bernie" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Ben Bernie (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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