Milton Herth | |
---|---|
![]() |
|
Background information | |
Also known as | Milt Herth |
Born |
Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States] |
November 3, 1902
Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
Died | June 18, 1969 Las Vegas, Nevada] |
(aged 66)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Organist for WIND (AM), 1935 |
Instruments | Organ |
Labels | Decca, Capitol |
Associated acts | Milt Herth Trio |
Notable instruments | |
Hammond organ |
Milton "Milt" Herth (November 3, 1902 – June 18, 1969) was an American jazz organist, known for his work on the Hammond organ soon after it was introduced in 1935. Herth's work is available from his recordings of the 1930s and 1940s.
Herth was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the son of Erick Herth and Mary Lautrop. In 1937, Herth began to work with jazz pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith in Chicago, when Smith also signed to Decca Records. Herth, Smith, and drummer O'Neil Spencer formed the Milt Herth Trio. The trio became a quartet with the addition of Teddy Bunn on guitar in April 1938.
Herth also played himself in several short films (Love and Onions (1935), Swing Styles (1939), and Jingle Belles, (1941)) as well as the longer 1942 film, Juke Box Jenny, a movie noted for being a series of musical performances.
He died in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 18, 1969.