25 Facts About Adrian Rollini

Adrian Francis Rollini was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who primarily played the bass saxophone, piano, and vibraphone.

Adrian Rollini continued with music and, by age 14, he was leading his group composed of neighborhood boys, in which he doubled on piano and xylophone.

Adrian Rollini cut piano rolls for the Aeolian company on their Mel-O-Dee label and the Republic brand in Philadelphia.

Adrian Rollini was equally skilled at piano, drums, xylophone, and bass saxophone, which gained him the respect of Hand, who transferred the band to Adrian Rollini when he later retired from the music field.

Adrian Rollini recorded and worked with Roger Wolfe Kahn, Frank Trumbauer, and Red Nichols.

Adrian Rollini found Rollini, as well as Chelsea Quealey, Bobby Davis, Tommy Felline and Jack Russin.

Adrian Rollini submitted his resignation to the Ramblers, and agreed to join Elizalde, along with fellow Ramblers Quealey, Felline, Russin, and Davis, in 1927, and stayed until September 1928.

Adrian Rollini continued to work, recording with such artists as Bert Lown, Lee Morse, The Dorsey Brothers, Ben Selvin and Jack Teagarden into the depression of the 30s.

Adrian Rollini owned Whitby Grill, which was situated on West 45th Street.

Adrian Rollini was featured on the radio, working with artists such as Kate Smith.

Adrian Rollini strongly believed that the artist playing the instrument knows more about it than the maker who is only concerned with the mechanics.

Adrian Rollini frequented the Georgian Room and the Piccadilly Circus Bar, both located in the Piccadilly Hotel.

Adrian Rollini recorded on bass sax for the last time in 1938.

Adrian Rollini went on to play hotels, as well as arranging and writing songs behind the scenes, collaborating with such names as Vaughan Monroe.

Adrian Rollini can be seen in the 1938 short entitled "Auld Lang Syne", starring James Cagney, and "Melody Masters: Swing Style".

Adrian Rollini did a brief tour in the late 1940s in which he came to the Majestic Theater in downtown Dallas, among other cities.

Adrian Rollini owned a 21-foot Chris Craft speedboat and a Chris Craft cruiser, sleeping four.

Adrian Rollini later relocated to Florida and opened the Eden Roc Hotel in September 1955.

Adrian Rollini loved sport-fishing, and his Driftwood offered deep-sea fishing charters.

Adrian Rollini was found lying in a blood-splattered car with one of his feet almost severed.

Adrian Rollini claimed he had fallen, but the police looked into the possibility of foul play.

Adrian Rollini's death was reported as being caused by pneumonia and complications to the liver.

Coroner Frederick J Spencer, author of Jazz and Death: Medical Profiles of Jazz Greats, later analyzed Rollini's death and argued Rollini died of mercury poisoning.

In 1998, Adrian Rollini was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.

Adrian Rollini was survived by his wife, Dorothy "Dixie" Rollini who later died in 1977.