Volume 13 , Issue 37

Giuseppe "Joe" Venuti (1903-1978)

Joe Venuti was the first great violinist of Jazz. The music he made with Eddie Lang would later be a major influence on Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in France.

Joe Venuti was born 16 September 1903, aboard a ship as his parents emigrated from Italy, though many believe he was simply born in Philadelphia. Later in life, he said he was born in Italy in 1896 and that he came to the U.S. in 1906. Venuti died 14 August 1978.

Venuti trained to be a classical violinist from an early age. Venuti was an Italian-American jazz musician and pioneer jazz violinist. Venuti met Eddie Lang in 1913 while attending school in Philadelphia and started a local group with him three years later. Lang and Venutie would go on to play and record with each other frequently up until Lang's death in 1933.

Venuti played briefly with Red Nichols. He toured with jean Goldkette and played in the orchestra of many Broadway shows. Venuti co-led a band with Eddie Lang off and on through most of the 1920's, that included Jimmy Dorsey, Red Nichols and Frank Signorelli of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

In 1929, Venuti joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra but was injured in an auto accident, which he rejoined th the band in 1930. Venuti was able to keep working as a musician the rest of his life and enjoyed a resurgence of interest in the 1970's.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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