Virtuoso clarinet player who took up the instrument at age 11 and started his career at age 12 performing at theater amateur nights. He won first prize once for his rendition of "St. Louis Blues".
2
His specialty was "glugging" which is a vocal sound effect that can be heard in such Spike Jones' City Slicker's classics as "Holiday for Strings" and "Cocktails for Two".
3
Joined up with bandleader Phil Spitalny at the age of 17 before forming his own comedy band called Mickey Katz and his Komedy Kittens.
4
Spent much of World War II entertaining the troops in USO tours.
5
Replaced Donald Grayson (aka Carl Grayson) in "The Spike Jones City Slickers" due to Grayson's problems with alcohol and stayed with the band for about a year and a half. He eventually quit due to the exhaustive touring schedule.
6
Jewish-American comedian/actor/musician. A charter member of Spike Jones's City Slickers (That chorus of hiccups on Jones's 1943 hit "Cocktails for Two"? Him.) who became a fixture during the Golden Age of the Borscht Belt. Recorded a score of albums on Capitol Records and starred in the Broadway shows "Borscht Capades" and "Hello, Solly!" Father of Joel Grey and grandfather of Jennifer Grey.
$400,000
