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Perry Botkin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perry Botkin (July 22, 1907 – October 14, 1973) was an American jazz guitarist, banjoist, and composer.

Career

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Born in Springfield, Ohio, Perry Botkin started working in the 1920s for Wayne Euchner, who had a big band in West Baden, Indiana.[1] Around 1928 he worked with Phil Napoleon's Original Memphis Five. Later he played the guitar on Hoagy Carmichael's Hong Kong Blues.[2] He also recorded with Al Jolson, Buddy Cole Trio, Connee Boswell, Eddie Cantor, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman, Bob Hope, Fred Astaire, Spike Jones, Roy Rogers, and The Dorsey Brothers.[3]

The single The Executioner Theme from the film Murder by Contract reached number 39 on Canada's CHUM Chart.[4]

For 17 years he worked as musical director for Bing Crosby.[2] He appeared as a musician in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1956-1957).[3] In 1958 he composed the score for Murder by Contract, and in the 1960s he composed many songs for The Beverly Hillbillies, e.g. "Elly May's Theme".[3] His son, Perry Botkin Jr., was also a musician and composer.[3]

Perry Botkin died in Van Nuys, California at the age of 66.

Discography

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  • The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Decca, 1951)

References

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  1. ^ Schiedt, Duncan P. (1977). The Jazz State of Indiana. p. 247.
  2. ^ a b "Jazz & Ragtime in Indiana". Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  3. ^ a b c d "Perry Botkin: Pioneer of American Music". Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved 2014-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - August 17, 1959".
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