Botkin, Perry, 1907-1973

Perry Botkin (1907-1973) was a music composer, arranger, pianist, band leader, orchestra conductor, and string instrument musician. Born in Richmond, Indiana, he began his career at age fourteen playing banjo for Harry Frankel. He moved to Hollywood in the 1920s and worked with several well known bands and performers, including John Scott Trotter and Bing Crosby. The three worked together in the 1941 motion picture production "Birth of the Blues." Botkin and Trotter continued to be Crosby's musicians through 1954. Botkin also worked in radio in the 1940s and 1950s and for television in the early 1960s with the television series "The Beverly Hillbillies." Throughout his career, Botkin was recognized as the foremost guitar musician in Hollywood and the first musician to perform ukulele solos. Botkin primarily composed jazz, bluegrass, western, popular, and folk arrangements.

From the description of Perry Botkin papers, 1920-1972. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 57482047