Pee Wee Erwin

George "Pee Wee" Erwin (May 30, 1913 – June 20, 1981), was an American jazz trumpeter.

Pee Wee Erwin
Background information
Birth nameGeorge Erwin
Born(1913-05-30)May 30, 1913
Falls City, Nebraska
DiedJune 20, 1981(1981-06-20) (aged 68)
Teaneck, New Jersey
GenresSwing, Big band
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsTrumpet

Biography

Erwin started on trumpet at age four. He played in several territory bands before joining the groups of Joe Haymes (1931–33) and Isham Jones (1933–34). He then moved to New York City, where he was prolific as a studio musician, performing on radio and in recording sessions. He played with Benny Goodman in 1934-35, then with Ray Noble in 1935; the next year he joined Goodman again, taking Bunny Berigan's empty chair. In 1937 he again followed Berigan, this time in Tommy Dorsey's orchestra, where he remained until 1939.

Erwin led his own big band in 1941-42 and 1946. In the 1950s he settled in New Milford, New Jersey and played Dixieland jazz in New Orleans, and in the 1960s formed his own trumpet school with Chris Griffin; among its graduates was Warren Vaché. Erwin played up until the year of his death, recording as a leader for United Artists in the 1950s and issuing six albums in 1980 and '81, the last two years of his life.[1][2]

Discography
  • (1953) The Land of Dixie
  • (1955) Accent on Dixieland
  • (1956) Dixieland at Grandview Inn
  • (1958) Oh, Play That Thing!
  • (1960) Down by the Riverside
  • (1965) Pee Wee Erwin and His Dixieland Band
  • (1980) Pee Wee in New York
  • (1980) Swingin' That Music
  • (1980) Pee Wee in Hollywood

References
  1. Peerless, B. "Pee Wee Erwin", Retrieved March 26, 2008.
  2. Scott Yanow, Pee Wee Erwin at Allmusic

Further reading
  • Erwin, PW (1987) This Horn for Hire. The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
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