Jan Garber (born Jacob Charles Garber, November 5, 1894 – October 5, 1977) was an American jazz bandleader. Billed as "the Idol of the Airlanes," Jan Garber led a big band in the 1930s that was the epitome of "sweet" music. His reed section's quavering saxophones were the band's trademark.
Garber was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Garber moved with his family to Louisville, Kentucky, when he was three months old, and lived there until he was 13. The family then moved to a small town near Philadelphia. He was the tenth of 12 children. Garber went to the University of North Carolina, and shortly after World War I he played violin in the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. In 1921 with pianist Milton Davis, he co-founded the Garber-Davis Orchestra. Chelsea Quealey and Harry Goldfield (who would eventually join Paul Whiteman) were the orchestra's trumpeters.
With the rise of the Depression, Garber's ensemble was struggling but his greatest popularity surfaced in early 1933, shortly after he took over leadership of the 'Little Freddie Large Orchestra' from Canada. With Freddie's unique lead alto saxophone captivating radio listeners from Cincinnati to Catalina Island, the Garber Band - with a sound like Lombardo but lots peppier - became an overnight sensation at Chicago's famed Trianon Ballroom. A year later, it was solidly entrenched among the most popular dance groups in the entire country. The band's theme song was "My Dear", composed by Garber in conjunction with Freddie Large.
His orchestra recorded popular recordings for Victor up to 1935 and then for Decca during the next seven years. The most popular recordings were “You’re Breaking My Heart” and “Jealous Heart.”
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During these years, Jan Garber was to become increasingly well known as 'The Idol of The Air Lanes.' This was an informal title bestowed by announcer Pierre Andre during one of the band's countless broadcasts on Chicago's WGN Radio.
In 1942 Jan Garber surprised his fans by switching gears and reorganizing his orchestra into a swing band; he was apparently persuaded by his 12-year old daughter! Gray Rains' arrangements transformed the orchestra's sound and Liz Tilton took pleasing vocals, but the recording ban of 1942-1944 kept the big band from recording much, and by 1945 Garber had returned to his former sweet sound. Over his 55 years in the business Garber recorded over 1000 records.
In addition to superior musicians, Jan was blessed with a series of excellent vocalists from the mid-1940s onward. Tommy Traynor and Tim Reardon were early names in the post-war Garber Band, together with Alan Copeland and his 'TwinTones' singing group. Also emerging from the late 1940s were Bob Grabeau; Roy Cordell (called "the best of them all" by Jan's widow, Dorothy); Larry Dean; Julio Maro; and Marv Nielsen. Prominent among Jan's post-war female vocalists were Thelma Gracen, Julie Vernon and Janis Garber (who was billed for a time as 'Kitty Thomas').During the 1950s, Garber’s group appeared regularly in Las Vegas and played the Southern horse show circuit. They continued to record actively through the 1960s. Garber continued working on at least a part-time basis into the mid-'70s, performing music that pleased dancers. His last show was in Houston after which his daughter Janis led the band until 1973 when it disbanded. It was later reformed and currently is led by Howard Schneider.
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After having been ill for a length of time Garber died in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 5, 1977, a month before his 83rd birthday
(Compiled and edited from Wikipedia, AllMusic, discogs.com & jangarber.com)