Roger Wolfe Kahn: Biography

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Born:

Oct 19, 1907

Died:

Jul 12, 1962

Genres:

Classical Music, Classic Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1920's|1930's

Bandleader Roger Wolfe Kahn was born October 19, 1907 in Morristown, NJ; the son of multimillionaire Otto Kahn, he began playing the violin at age seven, and over the course of his life mastered well over a dozen instruments. In 1923 he formed his first orchestra, playing only the most exclusive New York venues during the decade to follow; with his family's enormous wealth to back him, Kahn was able to recruit the finest musicians, and his aptlynamed Million Dollar Band variously employed the likes of Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Artie Shaw, Jack Teagarden and Gene Krupa. After recording a series of dates for the Victor label between 1925 and 1932, in 1935 Kahn's interest turned away from music to aviation, and he later worked as a test pilot; he died in New York City on July 12, 1962.

- Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide