Joe Venuti

Jazz violinist, Joe Venuti, joined Paul Whiteman’s band shortly before the making of the film THE KING OF JAZZ (1930). In the early '30s, he recorded with artists such as Jack Teagarden, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and Bing Crosby. Whiteman formed a big band in 1935, but enjoyed only limited success, folding the band in 1943 to become regular on Crosby’s radio show. After surviving a lean spell in the '50s and early '60s, Venuti began recording with jazzmen such as Earl "Fatha" Hines, eventually making a warmly received appearance at the 1968 Newport Jazz Festival. Throughout his career, Venuti played with sparkling invention, bringing a sense of excitement to the violin.