Matty Malneck
Born(1903-12-09)December 9, 1903
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedFebruary 25, 1981(1981-02-25) (aged 77)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
GenresJazz, swing
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Violin
Years active1920s–1940s

Matthew Michael "Matty" Malneck (December 9, 1903 – February 25, 1981) was an American jazz violinist, songwriter, and arranger.

Career

Paul Whiteman Orchestra - Motion Picture, June 1930

Born in 1903, Malneck's career as a violinist began when he was age 16. He was a member of the Paul Whiteman orchestra from 1926 to 1937 and during the same period recorded with Mildred Bailey, Annette Hanshaw, Frank Signorelli, and Frankie Trumbauer.[1][2] He led a big band that recorded for Brunswick, Columbia, and Decca.[1] His orchestra provided music for The Charlotte Greenwood Show on radio in the mid-1940s[3] and Campana Serenade in 1942–1943.[4]

A newspaper article published September 19, 1938, noted that having only one brass instrument in Malneck's eight-instrument group was "unique for swing" as were the $3,000 harp and a drummer who played on "an old piece of corrugated paper box".[5] The group played in the film St. Louis Blues (1939) and You're in the Army Now (1941).[6] Malneck announced he was changing the group's name to Matty Malneck and His St. Louis Blues Orchestra.[7]

Malneck's credits as a songwriter have overshadowed his contributions as a performer. He composed songs which became hits, such as "Eeny Meeny Miney Mo" (1935) and "Goody Goody" (1936; both with lyrics by Johnny Mercer), "I'll Never Be the Same" (1932; music by Malneck & Frank Signorelli, lyrics by Gus Kahn), and "I'm Thru With Love" (1931; music by Malneck & Fud Livingston, lyrics by Kahn).[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (2007). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press. p. 429. ISBN 978-0-19-507418-5.
  2. ^ a b Yanow, Scott (2001). Classic Jazz. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 140. ISBN 0-87930-659-9.
  3. ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  4. ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  5. ^ "Harrison in Hollywood". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. Illinois, Edwardsville. September 19, 1938. p. 9. Retrieved February 9, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "'St. Louis Blues' Fair-Plus Musical". Film Bulletin. February 11, 1939. p. 7. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  7. ^ "Orchestra's Name Changed In Honor of New Picture". Santa Ana Register. California, Santa Ana. February 18, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved February 9, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon

External links

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