Alvino Rey Orchestra
| Alvino Rey | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alvin McBurney |
| Born |
July 1, 1908 Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 2, 2004 (aged 95) Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Genres | Jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, musical director, inventor |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1927–1994 |
| Associated acts | The King Sisters |
Alvin McBurney (July 1, 1908 – February 2, 2004), known by his stage name Alvino Rey, was an American swing era musician and bandleader often considered the father of the pedal steel guitar.
Alvin McBurney was born in Oakland, California, in 1908, but moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio. He showed early signs of his mechanical and musical aptitude; he built his first radio at the age of eight and, within a couple of years, became one of the youngest licensed ham radio operators in the country. His interest in music grew when he received a banjo as a tenth birthday gift. He began studying guitar at the age of 12, listening to recordings by guitarists Eddie Lang and Roy Smeck, who was known as a vaudeville performer .
At age 15 he invented an electric amplifier for the guitar but neglected to have it patented. He did patent several later versions. In 1927, he landed a job playing banjo with Cleveland bandleader Ev Jones. "Yes, I joined the Union when I was 16", he said. He practiced amplifying acoustic instruments as a teenager, starting with this first banjo. "I went to Lakewood High School and from there I went to New York and never did come back." he recalled.
His professional career began in 1927 when he played banjo in band led by Ev Jones. During the following year, he became a member of the Phil Spitalny Orchestra. He switched from banjo to guitar, and then he changed his name to Alvino Rey to take advantage of the popularity of Latin music in New York City at the time.
In the 1930s, he moved to San Francisco and joined Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights. He drew attention to himself and the band when started playing pedal steel guitar. The Gibson corporation asked him him to develop a pickup for the guitar. In 1937, he married Luise King of the King Sisters. He left Heidt in 1939 to start his own band and brought the King Sisters to provide vocals.
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