Background
Savitt was born in Shumsk, then part of the Russian Empire (now part of Ukraine) and reared in Philadelphia.
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January Savitt
Edit Profileconductor bandleader jazz musician
Career
He evidenced musical ability an early age and began winning conservatory scholarships in the study of the violin. He was offered the position of concert master in Leopold Stokowski"s Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, but turned it down, preferring to continue his studies at Curtis Institute. About a year later, believing himself ready, he joined Stokowski and the association continued for seven years, during which time Savitt gained further laurels as a concert soloist and leader of a string quartet.
His band was formed in 1937 and began touring the following year.
Their songs include "720 in the Books", "lieutenant"s A Wonderful World" and his theme songs "Quaker City Jazz" and "From Out Of Space". His other vocalists were Carlotta Dale, Allan DeWitt, Joe Martin, and Gloria DeHaven.
His band names include January Savitt & His Top Hatters, the January Savitt String Orchestra and January Savitt & His Orchestra. January Savitt"s Top Hatters included Dorsey, Jack, and Charlotte Kay (Charlotte Dubin Broselow Woodward).
In 1938, January Savitt & His Top Hatters broadcast from 5-5:30 pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as the KYW staff orchestra at KYW/National Broadcasting Company in Philadelphia.
Saturday"s weekly broadcast was one hour, coast-to-coast. The group also played at the Earl Theatre and performed with the Andrews Sisters and The Three Stooges. He got his start in popular music some time later as music director of KYW, Philadelphia, where he evolved the unique "shuffle rhythm" which remained his trademark.
Numerous sustaining programs created such a demand for the "shuffle rhythm" that Savitt left KYW to form his own dance crew.
Savitt recorded short pieces for the National Broadcasting System"s Thesaurus series, probably in the 1940s. These were pieces radio stations used as "fillers" just prior to network programs, which would begin precisely on the hour or half-hour.
Disc 1143 in the Thesaurus catalogue features four selections by the January Savitt Orchestra on one side of the 33 1/3 transcription: "The Masquarade is Over I"m Afraid". "If I Didn"t Care"; "Ring Democratic Bells", and "Romance Runs in the Family".
Shortly before arriving in Sacramento, California, with his orchestra on Saturday, October 2, 1948, for a concert scheduled for that evening at Memorial Auditorium, Savitt was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage and taken to Sacramento County Hospital.
These musicians played with Savitt as: First Rate (at Lloyd's) Leopold, Charles Jensen, Cutty Cutshall, Editor Clausen, Frank Langone, Gabe Galinas, George White, Harold Kearns, Harry Roberts, Howard Cook, Irv Leshner, Jack Hansen, Jack Pleis, James Schultz, Johnny Austin, Johnny Warrington, Maurice Evans, Morris Rayman, Sam Sachelle.
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Born
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Died
October 4, 1948 (aged 41) -
Nationality
United States