Blue Barron
Blue Barron(November 19, 1913 – July 16, 2005),[1]bornHarry Freidman,was an Americanorchestra leaderin the 1940s and early 1950s during theBig Bandera. His band's more subdued tone was referred to as "Sweet" music to distinguish it from the "Swing"bands of the era. Barron's orchestra began in theNew York Cityarea but later toured the U.S. and performed at popular venues inLos Angeleswhere they also appeared in severalmotion picturesand recorded a number ofLPs.
Early years[edit]
Born inCleveland,Ohio,United States,[2]Freidman studied atOhio State Universitybefore going into show business. He adopted thestage nameBlue Barron and by 1940 had created his own orchestra.
Career[edit]
His first group played on the Floating Palace showboat atTroy, New York,in October 1936. A newspaper report said the group "made an over night hit at the Floating Palace and remained there for 22 weeks."[3]
National Service and honors[edit]
DuringWorld War II,Barron served with theUnited States Armyand at war's end resumed his musical career. He was able to work in the industry for another ten years until the Big Band era gave way to new musical forms.[2]For his contribution to the recording industry, he has a star on theHollywood Walk of Fameat 1724 Vine Street. Barron hit number 1 for two weeks in 1949 with "Cruising Down The River".[2]The record sold over one million copies, gaininggold discstatus.[4]
Death[edit]
Blue Barron died in 2005, at the age of 91, inBaltimore, Maryland,[1]and is interred in Baltimore.[citation needed]
References[edit]
- ^abHecker, Don R. (23 July 2005)."Blue Barron, 91, Big-Band Leader, Dies".The New York Times.RetrievedAugust 14,2021.
- ^abcColin Larkin,ed. (1992).The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music(First ed.).Guinness Publishing.p. 182.ISBN0-85112-939-0.
- ^"Blue Barron Has Quick Rise to National Popularity".The News-Herald.Pennsylvania, Franklin. The News-Herald. August 17, 1939. p. 7.RetrievedDecember 15,2015– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Murrells, Joseph (1978).The Book of Golden Discs(2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.46.ISBN0-214-20512-6.
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1913 births
- 2005 deaths
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- American bandleaders
- Big band bandleaders
- Jewish American musicians
- Musicians from Cleveland
- Ohio State University alumni
- 20th-century American musicians
- United States Army soldiers
- 20th-century American Jews
- 21st-century American Jews
- Bluebird Records artists
- MGM Records artists