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Famed Bandleader Artie Shaw Dies at 94
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Bandleader, an icon in swing jazz and big band era, famous for his
1938 recording of the song, 'Begin the Beguine'





Artie Shaw shown playing clarinet in this Sept. 10, 1941 file photo

Artie Shaw, the jazz clarinetist and famed American bandleader, has
died at the age of 94, after a lengthy illness.

Shaw, one of the major figures of the swing and big-band era, became a
national star with "Begin the Beguine" in 1938. Another of his many
recorded hits was "Stardust."

Shaw was ranked with such notables as Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey,
among the greatest bandleaders of the time.

He was among the first white bandleaders to hire a black singer full
time when Billie Holiday joined his group.

Shaw abruptly stopped performing in 1954, but reorganized a band in
the early 1980s that featured another clarinetist leading the
orchestra.

Among his eight wives were actresses Lana Turner and Ava Gardner. All
eight marriages ended in divorce.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.


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