Kenneth Pitts (circa 1915) is an accomplished musician, teacher, arranger and composer who played for the Light Crust Doughboys band and the Fort Worth Opera orchestra of Texas.
Pitts started studying classical violin as a young teenager, and for a few years after he graduated from high school he worked as a janitor for a church in Fort Worth, Texas, while playing in a small fiddle band for practically nothing.
In 1935, a good friend who was playing with the Light Crust Doughboys from Burrus Mill convinced Pitts to come down for an audition. Because of Pitts' skill in improvising harmonies he got the job, which paid better than he was making as a janitor, and started a long time relationship with music, playing fiddle and occasionally singing baritone with the Doughboys.
Pitts had no formal training in music composition, but he began to write down popular melodies and create accompanying harmonies; this led to trios and quartets for vocal ensembles. From continual experience of writing music for the Light Crust Doughboys, Pitts eventually started arranging for all sizes and sorts of groups. Pitts created most of the arrangements used by the Doughboys, and picked what they would perform for the radio shows.
In 1940 Pitts and a few other members of the band decided to continue their musical training by attending Texas Christian University. After WWII Pitts attained his bachelor’s degree in music education, and began to teach in the Fort Worth public schools. After the Light Crust Doughboys disbanded in 1942, Pitts continued teaching in schools, while at the same time taking on forty-five private students to support his family. Pitts continued on in his education to earn a master’s degree in music education, and spent thirty years playing in the Fort Worth Opera orchestra.
From the guide to the Kenneth Pitts papers, 1922-1970, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)
