Irving Aaronson

Irving A. Aaronson (February 7, 1895 – March 10, 1963) was an American jazz pianist and big band leader.

Irving A. Aaronson
Birth nameFebruary 7, 1895
BornNew York, US
DiedMarch 10, 1963(1963-03-10) (aged 68)
Hollywood, California, US
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader
InstrumentsPiano

Early life and education

Aaronson was born in New York.

He learned piano from Alfred Sendry at the David Mannes School for music.

Career

By age 11 he played accompaniment in silent movie theaters (called nickelodeons).[1]

Aaronson co-wrote a hit song, "Boo-Hoo-Hoo", in 1921.[1]

His first band was called the Crusaders and recorded several sides for Edison Records. His band signed with the Victor label in 1926 and the band name was changed to Irving Aaronson and his Commanders. While signed to Victor from 1926 to 1929 the band had a notable success with "Let's Misbehave" in 1927. The band appeared in Cole Porter's Broadway musical Paris, in 1928[1] and broadcast on KFWB, Hollywood, California, circa 1929.[2]

In 1935, Aaronson starred in the Irving Aaronson Orchestra radio program on NBC. The band toured movie theatres and ballrooms across the US before calling it quits in the mid-1930s, at which time Aaronson went to work as a musical director for MGM studios. He remained there in that capacity and as assistant to producer Joe Pasternak until his death from a heart attack in 1963.[3]

Aaronson's band included at various times musicians such as Phil Saxe, Joe Gillespie, and others who would become band leaders themselves: Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa and Tony Pastor. Western movie actor Fuzzy Knight was a drummer with Aaronson's band in the late 1920s.[4]

Aaronson's most popular song, "The Loveliest Night of the Year", was not recorded with his band but was adapted by Aaronson in 1950 for the Mario Lanza film The Great Caruso.[3]

When Aaronson was 45 years old, his musician career had faded, but Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios hired him as a musical supervisor. Less notable appearance on television include his voicing of Mr. Nobody in the MGM's animation Betty Boop for President.

Some sources suggest his retirement at age 65, others have him active until his death.

Personal life and final years

Aaronson died in Hollywood of a heart attack in 1963, at 68 years old. He was interred at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery.[5]

References
  1. Lewis, Dave. Irving Aaronson, redhotjazz.com
  2. Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 9.
  3. "Irving Aaronson obituary". Variety. March 13, 1963.
  4. "Fuzzy Knight obituary". Variety. March 3, 1976.
  5. Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.; Kindle ed.). McFarland & Company. Everlasting Peace, block 2, Hillside Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California

Other sources
  • Clarke, Donald. The Penguin encyclopedia of popular music, Viking, 1989.
  • Larkin, Colin. The encyclopedia of popular music, third edition. Macmillan, 1998.
  • Sies, Luther F. Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, McFarland, 2000.
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