Don Bestor
| Don Bestor | |
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Don Bestor in 1932
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| Born | September 23, 1889 Longford, South Dakota |
| Died | January 13, 1970 Metamora, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Bandleader |
| Known for | Leading orchestra on The Jack Benny Program in the old-time radio era |
| Spouse(s) | Frankie Classen (or Klassen or Klossam) Beulah Hattie |
| Children | Mary Ann Bestor Don Bestor, Jr. Robyn Bestor another son (name unknown) |
Don Bestor (September 23, 1889 - January 13, 1970) was an American bandleader, probably best known for directing the orchestra in the early years of The Jack Benny Program on old-time radio.
Bestor was born September 13, 1889, in Longford, South Dakota (although his birthplace also has been cited as Madison, Wisconsin). His mother was Mrs. Carrie Bestor. His brother, A.L. Bestor, was also a musician, directing the orchestra of the Orpheum Theater in Madison.
Jazz writer George T. Simon wrote that Bestor "led one of the best bands of the twenties, the Benson Orchestra of Chicago. Its music was rhythmic, crisp and clean." In September 1925, the trade publication Variety reported that the Don Bestor name appeared "by itself on the Victor label, [an arrangement which] gives Bestor solo billing, and deservedly so."
In 1926 Bestor recorded 'I've Got The Girl' with a refrain by a group of male vocalists. One member of that vocal group, in his very first recording, was Bing Crosby. (It would be over a year before Crosby recorded his first solo with Paul Whiteman).
A 1942 review on the trade publication Billboard said about Bestor's band at that time, "There's nothing fancy or flashy about this combination; it's just a sound, well-balanced band that offers a good brand of music and looks wholesome and pleasing on the stand."
By 1949, a list of bands in Billboard designated Bestor's group as "inactive."
Bestor's radio debut occurred in 1922 on KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His orchestra, which was playing at the William Penn Hotel, was broadcast over the station in what was described in his obituary as "the world's first remote control orchestra pickup." He also led orchestras at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1925 and at WGN in Chicago, Illinois, in 1925-26. By 1928, he and his orchestra were back on KDKA.
Bestor's tenure at KDKA ended in 1931. A June 13 newspaper listing had the headline "Don Bestor to Say Farewell: Final Concert to Be Played Over KDKA Sunday at 7:15 P.M."
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