Background

Elman was born in Philadelphia, but his family settled in Atlantic City, New Jersey when he was four. His father was a violinist who had hoped Elman would play violin. Although he did learn to play violin, he preferred brass instruments. He began playing for Jewish weddings and nightclubs at age 15.

Education

In his teens Finkelman was proficient on several brass and woodwind instruments and played in the Atlantic City high school band, before leaving school in 1928 to perform in nightclubs.

Career

Finkelman's nickname may have been given to him by show girls in Atlantic City.

They replied that he might become another Florenz Ziegfeld and began to refer to him as "Ziggy. "

He also performed an act called the One-Man Show.

Goodman borrowed him from Bartha and at the close of the engagement invited Elman to join his band on a long-term basis.

Shortly thereafter Finkelman legally changed his last name to Elman.

According to George Simon's review of the event, Elman's performance in "Swingtime in the Rockies" sparked the group to a memorable climax in "Sing, Sing, Sing, " a swing classic.

Elman had grown up in an ethnic household where only Yiddish was spoken.

In the late 1930's Elman made a series of recordings under the name "Ziggy Elman and His Orchestra"; one of these arrangements was entitled "Fralich in Swing. "

When words were added by Johnny Mercer, it was renamed "And the Angels Sing. "

This number, with a trumpet solo featuring Elman, became a hit for the Goodman band in 1939.

Late in 1939, when Goodman began to suffer from back problems, Elman led the band.

The following year, when Goodman took time for surgery, Elman remained on salary and returned to New York City, where he played for a month with Joe Venuti's group.

One of his outstanding performances with this band in 1942 was his trumpet part in "Well, Git It. "

In January 1947 he formed his own short-lived band and later appeared in the movie The Fabulous Dorseys.

After settling on the West Coast, in 1948 Elman again formed a band and began to specialize in studio work, although his band appeared at the Hollywood Palladium and on midwestern tours in the early 1950's.

In 1953 Elman rejoined Goodman for a tour and again fronted the band after Goodman became ill.

In 1956, Elman appeared in the movie The Benny Goodman Story but was sick and could not play.

The song "And the Angels Sing" was actually played by Manny Klein.

For approximately the last ten years of his life Elman considered himself semiretired but continued some musical activities and ran his own music store, though illness curtailed his playing.

Achievements

• Gifted with perfect pitch, at about the age of three Finkelman began to emulate his brothers and show an interest in the piano. He first publicly played the trumpet in Sol ("Sonny") Kendis' group. This trio was part of the band that appeared in a famous Carnegie Hall jazz concert on January 16, 1938. With the Dorsey band Elman occasionally doubled on trombone while Dorsey played trumpet. Following his military discharge early in 1946, Elman played baritone saxophone with the Dorsey band prior to rejoining the band's trumpet section. He earned honors on his instrument with Down Beat poll victories in 1940-1941, 1943-1945, and 1947, as well as in the Metronome magazine poll for 1941-1942. His performing style and tone together with his use of the fralich element gave Elman a strong musical identity.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Issued Recordings: 1947 & 1949

    (In the late '40s, after years with Benny Goodman, trumpet...)

  • 1947

    (w. his orchestra, Virginia Maxey & Bob Manning)

  • book

  • book

  • Hub-Je-De-Bee
  • The Chronological Classics: Ziggy Elman and his Orchestra 1938-1939
  • I've Found a New Baby (Remastered)

Personality

In the early 1960's he was temporarily hospitalized for a nervous breakdown, but for several months in 1962-1963 he toured with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra under the direction of Sam Donahue.

Connections

He married Blanche Georgette Hammerer on October 18, 1937; they were divorced in 1940.

Also in 1943 he married Ruby Morie; they had one child.

1st wife:

Blanche Georgette Hammerer

2nd wife:

Ruby Morie