Matty Malneck | |
---|---|
Born | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | December 9, 1903
Died | February 25, 1981 Hollywood, California, U.S. | (aged 77)
Genres | Jazz, swing |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Violin |
Years active | 1920s–1940s |
Matthew Michael "Matty" Malneck (December 9, 1903 – February 25, 1981) was an American jazz violinist, songwriter, and arranger.
Born in 1903, Malneck's career as a violinist began when he was age 16. He was a member of the Paul Whiteman orchestra from 1926 to 1937 and during the same period recorded with Mildred Bailey, Annette Hanshaw, Frank Signorelli, and Frankie Trumbauer. [1] [2] He led a big band that recorded for Brunswick, Columbia, and Decca. [1] His orchestra provided music for The Charlotte Greenwood Show on radio in the mid-1940s [3] and Campana Serenade in 1942–1943. [4]
A newspaper article published September 19, 1938, noted that having only one brass instrument in Malneck's eight-instrument group was "unique for swing" as were the $3,000 harp and a drummer who played on "an old piece of corrugated paper box". [5] The group played in the film St. Louis Blues (1939) and You're in the Army Now (1941). [6] Malneck announced he was changing the group's name to Matty Malneck and His St. Louis Blues Orchestra. [7]
Malneck's credits as a songwriter have overshadowed his contributions as a performer. He composed songs which became hits, such as "Eeny Meeny Miney Mo" (1935) and " Goody Goody" (1936; both with lyrics by Johnny Mercer), " I'll Never Be the Same" (1932; music by Malneck & Frank Signorelli, lyrics by Gus Kahn), and "I'm Thru With Love" (1931; music by Malneck & Fud Livingston, lyrics by Kahn). [1] [2]