Shaw, Artie, 1910-2004

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Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction.

Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists", Shaw led one of the United States' most popular big bands in the late 1930s through the early 1940s. Though he had numerous hit records, he was perhaps best known for his 1938 recording of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine." Before the release of "Beguine," Shaw and his fledgling band had languished in relative obscurity for over two years and, after its release, he became a major pop artist within short order. The record eventually became one of the era's defining recordings. Musically restless, Shaw was also an early proponent of what became known much later as Third Stream music, which blended elements of classical and jazz forms and traditions. His music influenced other musicians, such as Monty Norman in England, with the vamp of the James Bond Theme, possibly influenced by 1938's "Nightmare".

Shaw also recorded with small jazz groups drawn from within the ranks of the big bands he led. He served in the US Navy from 1942 to 1944, during which time he led a morale-building band that toured the South Pacific. Following his discharge in 1944, he returned to lead a band through 1945. Following the breakup of that band, he began to focus on other interests and gradually withdrew from the world of being a professional musician and major celebrity, although he remained a force in popular music and jazz before retiring from music completely in 1954.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Eugene Earle Collection, 1939-1980s University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798 - 2007. Official Military Personnel Files, 1885 - 1998. National Archives at St. Louis
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, 1826 - 2009. Sound Recordings Relating to Conservation, ca. 1939 - 1946. You Grow Sweeter as the Years Go By. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Duke Ellington recordings collection Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Bill Spilka collection of jazz videorecordings [videorecording] The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Leo Reisman collection of sound recordings [sound recording], 1932-1948 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Art Foxall Collection MSS 397., 1925 to 1990, 1940s-1950s Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
creatorOf W. Royal Stokes Collection of Music Photoprints and Interviews National Museum of American History (U.S.). Archives Center
referencedIn Miscellaneous negatives, 1913-1953. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Porter, Quincy, 1897-1966. The Quincy Porter papers, 1897-1975 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Shaw, Artie, 1910-2004. Papers, 1910-1953 (bulk 1936-1950). University of Arizona Libraries
referencedIn The Railroad hour, radio program [sound recording], 1948-1954 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Porter, Quincy, 1897-1966. The Quincy Porter papers, 1897-1975 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Ambassador Auditorium Collection, 1974-1995 Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries
referencedIn National Orchestral Association collection of rehearsal and concert recordings [sound recording], 1938-1968 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Berkman, Ted. Ted Berkman papers, 1942-2001. Cornell University Library
referencedIn ARS Miscellany, 1899-2005 Archive of Recorded Sound
creatorOf Artie Shaw "Begin the Beguine" Music Manuscripts National Museum of American History (U.S.). Archives Center
creatorOf Shaw, Artie, 1910-2004. Autograph card signed : [n.p.], 1994 Aug. 4. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Still, William Grant, 1895-1978. William Grant Still and Verna Arvey Papers, 1894-1991. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
referencedIn Quincy Porter Papers, 1897-1975 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Jenney, Jack, 1910-1945. Papers, 1930-1945. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Bracco, Francis Paul. Paramount Theatre stage manager's records, 1936-1956. New York Public Library System, NYPL
Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, 1826 - 2009. Sound Recordings Relating to Conservation, ca. 1939 - 1946. Audio Recording of a performance of "If You Ever Change Your Mind." National Archives at College Park
creatorOf John R. Tumpak Big Band Oral History Collection National Museum of American History (U.S.). Archives Center
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Feinstein, Herbert. Herbert Feinstein interviews : revised mss (typescript) and published periodicals, 1960-1966. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Shaw, Artie, 1910-2004. [Composition book]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Paramount Theatre stage manager's records, 1936-1956 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
Relation Name
associatedWith Berkman, Ted. person
associatedWith Bracco, Francis Paul person
associatedWith Bracco, Francis Paul. person
associatedWith Brooklyn Daily Eagle. corporateBody
associatedWith Carnegie Hall (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Earle, Eugene. person
associatedWith Feinstein, Herbert. person
associatedWith Foxall, Art person
associatedWith Gershwin, George, 1898-1937 person
associatedWith Jenney, Jack, 1910-1945. person
associatedWith Kern, Jerome, 1885-1945 person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith National Orchestral Association (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Porter, Cole, 1891-1964 person
associatedWith Porter, Quincy, 1897-1966 person
associatedWith Porter, Quincy, 1897-1966. person
associatedWith Railroad Hour Radio Program corporateBody
associatedWith Reisman, Leo, 1897-1961 person
associatedWith Spilka, Bill person
associatedWith Still, William Grant, 1895-1978. person
associatedWith United States. Dept. of the Interior. Office of the Secretary. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Navy corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Thousand Oaks CA US
New York City NY US
Subject
Art, Japanese
Clarinet
Clarinetists
Clarinetists
Jazz
Jazz musicians
Jazz vocals
Students' songs
Swing (Music)
Occupation
Actor
Author
Bandleader
Clarinetist
Composers
Musician
Activity

Person

Birth 1910-05-23

Death 2004-12-30

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6n40nx2

SNAC ID: 87239425