Bunny Berigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bunny Berigan
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roland Bernard Berigan |
| Born | November 2, 1908 Hilbert, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | June 2, 1942 (aged 33) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader |
| Instruments | Trumpet, vocals |
| Years active | 1930–1942 |
Roland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan (born November 2, 1908 – died June 2, 1942) was a famous American jazz trumpet player and bandleader. He became very popular during the swing era, a time when big band jazz was huge. Sadly, his career ended early when he passed away at just 33 years old due to serious health problems.
Bunny was known for his amazing trumpet playing. He also wrote some jazz songs like "Chicken and Waffles" and "Blues". His song "I Can't Get Started" from 1937 is a classic. It was even added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1975.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Journey
Bunny Berigan was born in Hilbert, Wisconsin. He grew up in Fox Lake. He learned to play the violin and trumpet when he was young. As a teenager, he started playing with local bands. He even played with the University of Wisconsin's jazz group, even though he didn't actually go to college there.
He first tried out for the Hal Kemp Orchestra. He didn't get in at first, but he joined their band later in 1929. With this orchestra, he recorded his first trumpet solos. They even toured England and other parts of Europe in 1930. Bunny also played as a special soloist with bands led by famous musicians like Rudy Vallee, Tommy Dorsey, Paul Whiteman, and Benny Goodman.
Becoming a Studio Musician
After the Hal Kemp orchestra returned to the U.S. in late 1930, Bunny became a very popular studio musician in New York. This meant he was hired to play on many different recordings. He joined the CBS radio network as a musician in 1931. That same year, he recorded his first song as a singer, "At Your Command".
From late 1932 to early 1934, Bunny was part of Paul Whiteman's orchestra. Then, he played briefly with Abe Lyman's band in 1934. He went back to being a freelance studio musician and working for CBS radio in 1934. He played on hundreds of records with other artists. He played with the Dorsey Brothers and on Glenn Miller's first recording as a leader in 1935, called "Solo Hop".
Joining Benny Goodman's Band
Around the same time, Bunny joined Benny Goodman's Swing band. A jazz talent scout named John H. Hammond helped convince drummer Gene Krupa to rejoin Goodman's band. Hammond told Krupa that Bunny Berigan, whom Krupa admired, was already part of the new group.
With Bunny and Krupa, the Goodman band went on a tour. This tour ended at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles. This performance is often seen as the start of the exciting swing era. While with Goodman, Bunny recorded many solos, including "King Porter Stomp" and "Blue Skies".
Rising to Fame
Bunny left Goodman's band to go back to being a freelance recording and radio musician in New York. During 1935 and 1936, he started recording regularly under his own name. He also continued to play with famous singers like Bing Crosby, Mildred Bailey, and Billie Holiday.
He spent some time with Tommy Dorsey's orchestra in late 1936 and early 1937. He was a jazz soloist on Dorsey's radio show and on several records. His solo on Dorsey's hit song "Marie" became one of his most famous performances.
In 1937, Bunny put together his own band to record and tour. He chose the song "I Can't Get Started" as his band's theme song. He tried a few times to get his own band going, and his last attempt was a big success. He played trumpet in almost every song while leading the band. Bunny's trumpet playing and singing on "I Can't Get Started" made it the biggest hit of his career. He looked up to Louis Armstrong as his idol and often said so. Even so, Bunny's trumpet sound and jazz ideas were truly his own.
Leading His Own Band
Bunny Berigan led his own band full-time from early 1937 until June 1942. He took a six-month break in 1940 to play with Tommy Dorsey's band again. Bunny faced some tough times and his health began to decline, which made it hard for his band to be financially successful.
Many talented musicians played in Bunny Berigan's band. Some of them include:
- Drummers: Buddy Rich, Dave Tough, George Wettling
- Saxophonists: Gus Bivona, Georgie Auld
- Vocalists: Danny Richards, Ruth Bradley
- Pianists: Joe Bushkin, Joe Lipman
- Trombonists: Ray Conniff, Sonny Lee
- Trumpeters: Carl Warwick, Steve Lipkins, Les Elgart
Bunny was often featured on CBS Radio's Saturday Night Swing Club broadcasts from 1936 into 1937. This radio show helped make jazz even more popular as the swing era reached its peak. He sometimes appeared on this program as a guest throughout the rest of the 1930s.
Later Years and Passing
Bunny Berigan faced financial difficulties in 1939. Soon after, he rejoined Tommy Dorsey's band as a featured jazz soloist. By September 1940, Bunny briefly led a new small group. But he soon put together a touring big band again.
Bunny led moderately successful big bands from the fall of 1940 into early 1942. He was starting to make a comeback when his health became very serious. On April 20, 1942, while on tour, Bunny was hospitalized with pneumonia in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He stayed there until May 8. Doctors found that he had a serious liver condition. They advised him to stop playing the trumpet for a while.
However, Bunny did not stop playing. He returned to his band on tour and played for a few more weeks. He then returned to his home in New York City. On May 31, 1942, he suffered a major internal bleeding. He passed away two days later in Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital, New York, at the age of 33. His funeral was held on June 3 at Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in New York. He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery near Fox Lake.
Bunny Berigan's Legacy
After Bunny's passing, his widow, Donna Berigan, kept his band together as he wished. Tenor sax player Vido Musso became the new leader.
In 1944, Victor Records released a special collection of Bunny's recordings as a bandleader.
His 1937 recording of "I Can't Get Started" has been used in several films. These include Save the Tiger (1973), the Roman Polanski film Chinatown (1974), and a Martin Scorsese short film, The Big Shave (1967). Director Woody Allen has also used Bunny's music in his movies. In 2010, his recording of "Heigh-Ho" was used in a TV commercial for Gap clothing. Bunny Berigan's name has also appeared often in the comic strip Crankshaft.
From 1974, Fox Lake, Wisconsin held an annual Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee. This event was first organized by Bunny's daughter, Joyce Hansen. The last Jubilee was held in 2018.
Most of Bunny Berigan's recordings are still available today. Two full-length books have also been written about his life.
Honors and Recognition
- In 1975, Bunny Berigan's 1937 recording "I Can't Get Started" was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
- In 2008, Bunny Berigan was inducted into the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Bunny Berigan, a famous jazz trumpeter.
See also
In Spanish: Bunny Berigan para niños
