Jump to content

Orrin Tucker: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Add: date. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Spinixster | Category:American bandleaders | #UCB_Category 131/335
 
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 47: Line 47:
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:American centenarians]]
[[Category:American men centenarians]]
[[Category:Men centenarians]]
[[Category:American bandleaders]]
[[Category:American bandleaders]]
[[Category:North Central College alumni]]
[[Category:North Central College alumni]]

Latest revision as of 09:28, 30 June 2024

Orrin Tucker
Birth nameRobert Orrin Tucker
Born(1911-02-17)February 17, 1911
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died(2011-04-09)April 9, 2011 (aged 100)
South Pasadena, California, United States
Occupation(s)Bandleader
InstrumentSaxophone
Years active1939–1990s

Robert Orrin Tucker (February 17, 1911[1] – April 9, 2011)[2] was an American bandleader born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States,[3] whose theme song was "Drifting and Dreaming".[1] His biggest hit was "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!" (1939), sung by vocalist "Wee" Bonnie Baker. He founded his first band while a college student at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.

Career

[edit]

Orrin Tucker's big band, which he formed in 1933, specialized in a more relaxed style of swing, which was somewhat less complex than the music of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and other famous contemporary bandleaders of the day. Tucker's orchestra produced more than 70 recordings. Tucker's most successful hit was the 1939 recording of the 1917 song "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!," featuring the singer Wee Bonnie Baker.[4] It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[3] Orrin Tucker applied for active duty in the Medical Corps in the Navy;[3] he left the Orchestra June 7, 1942 and by July 15, 1942 expected the call for duty.[5] He later appeared on Your Hit Parade.[3]

Tucker and his orchestra remained active until the 1990s, when health problems forced him to retire. In 2003, Tucker was interviewed about his passion for music and his long career as a bandleader by the NAMM Oral History Program.[6] He died in South Pasadena, California, on April 9, 2011, aged 100.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2540/1. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ a b "Robert Tucker Obituary - Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  3. ^ a b c d Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 24. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  4. ^ "Orrin Tucker, Big Band Leader, Dies at 10". The New York Times. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  5. ^ Billboard, May 23, 1942
  6. ^ "Library". NAMM.org. 2003-04-25. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
[edit]