- Glen Gray
Infobox musical artist |
Name = Glen Gray
Img_capt = Glen Gray
Img_size = 150
Landscape =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Glen Gray Knoblauch
Alias = "Spike"
Born = birth date|1900|6|7|mf=y
Died = death date and age|1963|8|23|1900|6|7|mf=y
Origin =
Instrument = Saxophone
Genre =Jazz ,Big band
Occupation =Bandleader
Years_active = 1915–1963
Label = Brunswick, Decca, and Capitol
Associated_acts =Casa Loma Orchestra
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =Glen Gray Knoblauch, better known as Glen Gray, (
June 7 ,1900 –August 23 ,1963 ,Plymouth, Massachusetts ) was ajazz saxophonist and leader of theCasa Loma Orchestra ."The Mississippi Rag ", "Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra," George A. Borgman, October 2006, page 1]Gray was born to Lurdie P. and Agnes (Gray) Knoblauch in
Metamora, Illinois . His father was a lifelong railroad worker who died when Glen was two years of age. His widowed mother married George H. DeWilde, who was a few years younger than she was. When he was 13 years old, Gray organized a group known as Spike's Jazz Band. Gray graduated from Roanoke High School. He is said to have joined the army at seventeen and two years later he was living at home with his family. He was employed as a bill clerk for the railroad. He attendedIllinois Wesleyan University but left to work for theSanta Fe Railroad . In 1927, his Orange Blossoms Band was renamed as the Casa Loma Orchestra, afterCasa Loma inToronto , where the band played for eight months. He collaborated with the jazz musicianJean Goldkette and withtrumpeter /arranger Salvador Camarata. Ill health forced Glen to retire from touring in 1950. In 1956, he went back into the studio to record some LPs which recreated the sounds of thebig band era.Listen to
* [http://www.radiocrazy.com/shows/B/BigBands/GlenGreyandtheCasaLomaOrchestra.mp3 Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra]
References
External links
*imdb name|id=0336663|name=Glen Gray
* [http://www.swingmusic.net/Gray_Glen.html Glen Gray biography at Swingmusic.net]
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