Joe Venuti was born on September 16, 1903 as Giuseppe Venuti. He was an actor, known for Sweet and Lowdown (1999), Sarge Goes to College (1947) and Garden of the Moon (1938). He died on August 14, 1978 in Seattle, Washington, USA.
Pete Kelly's Blues, Garden of the Moon, Flying Down to Rio, Belle of Old Mexico, Disc Jockey
Star Sign
Virgo
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Fact
1
Was renowned for his clowning during performances, but was also reputed to be volatile and intolerant of criticism from both audiences and other musicians. His practical jokes were legendary. On one occasion he put an inebriated Bix Beiderbecke into a bath of purple Jell-O, on another he emptied a bag of flour into the bell of a tuba, as it turned out to the detriment of a musician in Paul Whiteman's band.
2
Was afflicted by alcoholism by the 1960's.
3
Venuti and his friend Eddie Lang bought two instruments at a pawn shop in Philadelphia, and, according to legend, flipped a coin to decide who would play which instrument. Lang got the guitar, Venuti the violin -- the rest is history.
4
Toured Europe in 1937 (with Teddy Hill's band), 1952 (with Bill Coleman's Swing Stars), 1959 and 1961 (with Buck Clayton's All-Stars), 1965 (solo) and 1978 (with Earle Warren and Claude Hopkins).
5
Was affiliated in the 1920's with Roger Wolfe Kahn, Paul Whiteman and Red Nichols. He also directed the Book-Cadillac Hotel Orchestra for Jean Goldkette (1924) and worked as a free-lance and session player in New York before starting his first band in 1934.
6
Was seriously injured during a mugging in 1976, but recovered.
7
His theme song was "Last Night".
8
He was a famous jazz violinist.
9
Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 2000.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Climax!
1955
TV Series
Bobcat
Pete Kelly's Blues
1955
Tuxedo Band Member (uncredited)
Disc Jockey
1951
Joe Venuti
Belle of Old Mexico
1950
Joe Venuti
Sarge Goes to College
1947
Violin, The Jam Session
The Little Broadcast
1943
Short
Jazz Violinst (uncredited)
Syncopation
1942
Joe Venuti
Garden of the Moon
1938
Musician
Flying Down to Rio
1933
Violinist in Orchestra (uncredited)
King of Jazz
1930
Violinist / Violin Sextet (uncredited)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mafia II
2010
Video Game "BEATIN THE DOG", "GOIN' PLACES", "STRINGING THE BLUES"
Sweet and Lowdown
1999
performer: "After You've Gone" 1918
The Fortune
1975
writer: "Pretty Trix" - uncredited
Inserts
1975
performer: "Moonglow"
Sarge Goes to College
1947
performer: "Blues In B Flat and Old Black Joe"
Garden of the Moon
1938
performer: "The Lady on the Two Cent Stamp" 1938, "The Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish" 1938 - uncredited
$15 Million
