Jazz Giant Artie Shaw Dies at Age 94

YAHOO NEWS/REUTERS ^ | 12-30-2004 | Reuters

[Captain Peter Blood]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bandleader and clarinetist Artie Shaw, famed for his recording of "Begin the Beguine" and one of the giants of the swing era of jazz, died on Thursday at age 94, his manager Will Curtis said.

A self-declared perfectionist, Shaw put down the clarinet in 1954 and never played it again, saying he could not reach the level of artistry he desired.

He had been ill for several years, Curtis said.

[Captain Peter Blood]

No doubt one of the all time great musicians of his time and one of the Greatest Clarinet players ever. He will be remembered for all of his great music plus all of the Great & Grand Ladies he romanced and married.

[The Fop]

Born Arthur Warshawsky. In an interview several years back he was asked what he does for fun these days. He replied "there's nothing more enjoyable then a good bowel movement" (I kid you not).

[MaryFromMichigan]

How many of you thought he was already gone?
Show of hands?

[SF Republican]

How many of you thought he was already gone? - not me, he was spotted here in San Francisco last year. BTW he was tons better than Benny Goodman

[MKM1960]

I will always remember Saturday night as a child. After my mother put me to bed> I would always get back up and crack the door, so I could hear the sounds of big band music playing on the stereo and the murmured conversations of their friends. Begin the Beguine was one of my Father's favorites.

[reagandemo]

I remember an interview someone did with him quite a few years ago and he showed the reporter his clarinet. He had turned it into a lamp. One expensive lamp.

[Bertha Fanation]

Super IQ too

[SF Republican]

Super babes too! Ava Gardner

[Steve_Seattle]

The clarinet solo in "Nightmare" is one of my all-time favorites; I also love the arrangement on "Begin the Beguine." Shaw was an interesting fellow; I read his autobiography - he came from nowhere.

[Steve_Seattle]

I knew he was still alive; he released a new compilation of his greatest hits a couple of years ago.

[Zeppo]

Wow... I certainly didn't know that he was still alive... He was from before my time, but I have been listening to a lot of 40's music on a local radio station and on XM Radio, and have liked what I've heard of his stuff...

[Trueredstater]

What's the title? That would be a really cool read.

Also, if you like jazz, read "To Be or Not to Bop" which is Dizzy's autobiography.

[Professional Engineer]

Anyone ask jenb who Artie Shaw was yet?

[nickcarraway]

"You have no idea of the women I didn't marry." Artie Shaw

[StoneColdGOP]

Holy crap, I had no idea he was still alive.

[PMCarey]

Another person who you wouldn't think is still alive is the boxer Max Schmelling.

[StoneColdGOP]

Yup, figured he'd be dead too.

[nkycincinnatikid]

The absolute greatest! From my grandfathers 78 rpm copy of Begin the Beguine, with Indian Love Call on the flip, I was hooked on Big Band era jazz for the rest of my life. I still have that record somewhere in the attic! I can't believe I did not know he was still alive until after he was dead.

[Pharmboy]

Biography for
Artie Shaw

Birth name
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky

---

Mini biography
Artie Shaw was the rival of Benny Goodman in the Swing era. With a different style of playing, his sound on clarinet was more liquid than Goodman's sound. After playing in different orchestras in the late twenties and thirties, he formed his own orchestra in 1936 and he added a string quartet to the Big Band. In 1938 he had a famous hit with the recording of the Cole Porter song "Begin the Beguine". After months of success and popularity he disolved his band in 1939. The year after he appeared with a new band.

In the fifties he went into a semi-retirement and wrote two books: "The trouble with cinderella" and "I love you, I hate you, drop dead". His last recordings were in 1954 with a small group with Hank Jones on piano and others. After this he retired from the music scene, except for a brief appearence for a week in the eighties.

---

IMDb mini-biography by
Eric Nesich (christyjazz45)

---

Spouse
Evelyn Keyes (1957 - present)
Doris Dowling (1952 - 1956) (divorced)
Kathleen Winsor (1946 - 1948) (divorced)
Ava Gardner (17 October 1945 - 25 October 1946) (divorced)
Elizabeth Kern (1942 - ?) (divorced) 1 child
Lana Turner (13 February 1940 - 12 September 1940) (divorced)
Jane Carns (? - ?) (annulled)
Margaret Allen (? - ?) (divorced)

---

Trivia
His paintings continue to be shown, at venues like Webster Hall in New York City.

Jazz clarinetist and bandleader.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1990.

Was the son-in-law of composer Jerome Kern while married to Kern's daughter Elizabeth

Winner of a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, 2004.

[Mr. Mojo]

[HungarianGypsy]

Wow! Artie Shaw was still alive? I thought he died years ago. Learn something new every day. Love his music, though.

[utahagen]

Thanks for sharing that.

[Chi-townChief]

And he was honest enough to say that he was duped by the commies and went on to reject them.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

I may be confusing Artie Shaw with someone else, but I think he may have put down his clarinet and picked up a rifle...became a benchrest shooter.

Semper Fi,

[sushiman]

Martin Denny is still alive at 94 !

[UnklGene]

Artie and Ava; 1945 newlyweds

[kellynla]

Man! Ava Gardner AND Lana Turner!!!
Ya gotta give the guy a lot of credit.
He sure had fabulous taste in WOMEN!!!

[Mike Darancette]

How many of you thought he was already gone?

I did, Shaw's rendition of Moonglow is the best.

[buccaneer81]

How many of you thought he was already gone? Show of hands?

Moi. I plead guilty. I thought he was long gone.

[Bonaparte]

Oh, I knew he was still around. A few months ago, I toyed with the idea of paying him an unexpected visit, just to watch him slam the door in my face. :-)

[Bonaparte]

Shaw wrote a number of books. He's very amusing. Try "The Trouble With Cinderella."

[Corin Stormhands]

We're still workin' on Jerry Orbach...

[Bonaparte]

If you want to hear a real tour de force, check out his "Concerto for Clarinet." His rendition of "Sugar Foot Stomp" is my favorite.

[bd476]

Bonaparte, unless I'm mistaken a local talk radio host interviewed him around New Years last year.

The talk show host and engineer went to Shaw's house for the interview and taped it.

[bd476]

The rest of the story is that Artie Shaw was a bona fide character during the interview. He was frank about his life, his many marriages, blaming no one, and as I recall, said he'd do it all over again. It was a compelling interview.

[F16Fighter]

"How many of you thought he was already gone? Show of hands?"

Only about 60 years ago!

[vetvetdoug]

I was invited to go to a Jr. High "dance" in 1964 and we were to bring a 45 rpm or a 33 rpm album with which to dance. I took an album by Artie Shaw. Needless to say, I lost out to the Beatles and Kinks.

[Bonaparte]

Well, at least you tried. There's just no accounting for taste, is there?

Have you heard Helen Forrest's "Moonray"? She recorded that one in 1938 when she got her first big break, singing with Shaw's band. Billie Holliday was also in his band that year and you can hear her influence on the younger singer.

[Bonaparte]

Thanks, bd. I'll see if I can track that interview down. Shaw was a complex and temperamental guy. One of my music teachers played trumpet with one of his bands and told great stories about him.

[bd476]

Hi Bonaparte,

Artie Shaw was interviewed by Doug McIntyre of 790 KABC Radio. I went to Doug's site, and to KABC and couldn't find a link even referencing the interview.

I will try to find out if McIntyre will play the interview again on air. McIntyre recently made the move from overnights to mornings (very unusual in Radio). Things may still be in flux.

KABC has a live web-stream so that would be a great way for you to hear it, that is if and when they play it again.

[Bonaparte]

Thanks, bd. Just sent an e to McIntyre. Suggested this would be an appropriate time to re-air the interview. Will keep you posted.

[bd476]

Great! That's good news!

Thank you Bonaparte, because hours ago I was thinking about asking him via e-mail since he's local and it's great listening to Doug McIntyre. Of course I'm not listening quite as much as when he was on The Red Eye Flight overnights, but the occasional "McIntyre in the Morning" is good with a cuppa java.

Happy New Year to Doug "how are you?" ; Penny "Sit back, relax..." his wife; Rob "Mandinko" Marinko and "Peace Feelings" ;) if you're all here reading this great website Free Republic. It's also likely you are heavy into celebrating or eating turkey chili.

Doug, after this big of a plug, if you hurry you can get to the Post Office and mail that check to me, and as usual, my manuscript is in the mail.

Sincerely,

bd476

[jazzo]

Just got back from out of town, and had to comment on the passing of a great American Icon. On my drive home I listened to a replay of an interview with Shaw from the mid eighties (Ok it was on NPR's Fresh Air). Listening to Shaw shows the depth of his generation of artist, vs the shallowness of the "artists" of today. He was truly a one of a kind artist. I also enjoyed his commentary during the Ken Burns Jazz Series. It hurts when we lose these guys there are not to many left. God Bless Artie Shaw, he will be missed.