Bill Reinhardt
| Bill Reinhardt | |
|---|---|
Bill Reinhardt at Flaming Sally’s 1977
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| Born |
William Julius Theodore Reinhardt September 21, 1908 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Died | January 23, 2001 (aged 92) San Diego, California, United States |
| Resting place | Graceland Cemetery |
| Spouse(s) |
Ruth Sato (June, 1942 – December, 1992; her death) Patricia Hughes (Sep. 23, 1994 – Jan. 23, 2001; his death) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Dixieland |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader, nightclub owner and manager, insurance salesman |
| Instruments | Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, French horn |
| Years active | 1926-1981 |
| Labels | Jazz, Ltd.; Atlantic |
| Associated acts | Chicago Six |
| Signature | |
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William (Bill) Julius Theodore Reinhardt (Sep. 21, 1908 – Jan. 23, 2001) was a prominent clarinetist, bandleader and the owner of Jazz, Ltd.—the first Jazz club run by a musician in Chicago and one of the longest running Dixieland jazz clubs in the country. He also played tenor saxophone, French horn and sang. Unlike many of the famous jazz musicians that Bill employed in his band, he did not seek fame; he was content with the great success of his nightclub. However, by the 1960s his band did appear on two TV programs.
Bill was born on West Garfield Ave. on the south side of Chicago to William C. Reinhardt (a bartender and real estate salesman) and Viola Reinhardt, both of German descent. Bill Reinhardt had a younger sister, Virginia (Ginny) Reinhardt, born 1912. She married Chet Roble, a TV actor, musician and one time member of Bill Reinhardt’s band.
Bill learned jazz music first by studying it from age nine to 18 then by traveling extensively with various bands for 16 years until joining the Navy in 1942. He heard and met many famous musicians and attended many popular nightclubs. This provided him with the contacts and resources he needed to form his own band and establish his own nightclub. In the 1920s Joe Marsala inspired Bill to play clarinet as his main instrument.
He played the French horn while attending Lake View High School in Chicago. On weekend nights he followed Johnny Dodds at Kelly’s Stables and Jimmy Noone at the El Rado Cafe (231 E. 55th Street in the Garfield Hotel) on the south side. He attended the University of Illinois for a year. There he met Miles Rinker, brother of a member Paul Whiteman’s The Rhythm Boys. Miles got Bill into the college concert band, Louis Schwab and his Illini Orioles under bandmaster Austin Harding.
During summer vacation, Louis contacted King Richards and Bill took his first road trip to Wisconsin and Indiana. Fred Dexter, a music scout and musician at the Wisconsin Roof Gardens club, heard Bill play and hired him for his band. He played at a resort pavilion in Hudson Lake, Indiana. Bill was impressed with Dexter’s fast band, whose musicians went on to good things. Dale McMickle, the trumpet player, was first trumpet with Glenn Miller. Alex Palocsay, the trombone player, was with Fred Waring. Bob White, the drummer, was with Freddy Martin for about twelve years. Fred Dexter’s band went on the road to Wisconsin, Illinois, and then Buffalo, New York, to play a Christmas season at a ballroom. Bill Reinhardt was "flabbergasted" upon seeing the inside of his first nightclub: The Everglades with show girls, at 48th and Broadway streets in New York City early in 1928. Walter Winchell and many celebrities frequented the club. Benny Goodman heard Dexter’s band play.
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Wikipedia