1. Benjamin "Ben" Pollack was an American drummer and bandleader from the mid-1920s through the swing era.
10 Facts About Ben Pollack
1. 2.
Ben Pollack joined the New Orleans Rhythm Kings in Chicago in 1923 and later joined the Los Angeles-based Harry Bastin Band.
3.
Ben Pollack's band played in Chicago and moved to New York City in 1928, having obtained McPartland and Teagarden around that time.
4.
Ben Pollack's band was involved in extensive recording activity at that time, using a variety of pseudonyms in the studios.
5.
Ben Pollack formed a new band with Harry James and Irving Fazola.
6.
Ben Pollack started Jewel Records, opened restaurants in Hollywood and Palm Springs, appeared as himself in the movie The Benny Goodman Story, and made a cameo in The Glenn Miller Story.
7.
In later years, after suffering a series of financial losses, Ben Pollack grew despondent and hanged himself in his home in Palm Springs in 1971.
8.
In 1926, Ben Pollack began recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company.
9.
Ben Pollack left Victor in late 1929 and recorded for Hit of the Week, the dime store labels, Victor, Columbia, Brunswick, Vocalion and Variety, and Decca.
10.
Ben Pollack co-wrote the jazz standard "Tin Roof Blues" in 1923 when he was a member of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.