Dave Barbour
Encyclopedia
Dave Barbour was an American musician. He was a jazz
banjoist and guitarist, a pop songwriter, an actor, and the husband of Peggy Lee
for nine years.
Barbour was born in Long Island, New York started off as a banjoist with Adrian Rollini
in 1933 and then Wingy Manone
in 1934. He switched to guitar in the middle of the decade and played with Red Norvo
in 1935-1936. He found much work as a studio musician and played in ensembles with Artie Shaw
(1939), Lennie Hayton
, Charlie Barnet
(1945), Raymond Scott
, Glenn Miller
, Lou Holden, and Woody Herman
(1949). He also recorded with Andre Previn in 1945.
He played with Benny Goodman
in 1942, and while a member of Goodman's ensemble, he fell in love with lead singer Peggy Lee
, and the pair quit the group to marry in 1943. Soon after they moved to Los Angeles
, Johnny Mercer
put them to work as a songwriting team, and they wrote a number of Lee's hits, such as "Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)" and "It's a Good Day
". Barbour was an alcoholic and had domestic troubles with Lee; this eventually split apart their marriage, which ended in 1952. Dave Barbour and His Orchestra had the best-selling version (USA) of the peppy song "Mambo Jambo."
Barbour's remaining career was far less successful than Lee's (who would marry three more times). His songwriting royalties sustained him, as the tunes he co-wrote with Lee were covered by many hitmakers of the 1950s. He acted in the films The Secret Fury
and Mr. Music, and occasionally performed, including with Benny Carter
in 1962. He died in 1965 in Malibu Beach, California, aged 53. He is survived by his daughter by Peggy Lee, Nicki Lee Foster (born 1943).
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
banjoist and guitarist, a pop songwriter, an actor, and the husband of Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
for nine years.
Barbour was born in Long Island, New York started off as a banjoist with Adrian Rollini
Adrian Rollini
Adrian Francis Rollini was a multi-instrumentalist best known for his jazz music. He played the bass saxophone, piano, xylophone, and many other instruments. Rollini is also known for introducing the goofus in jazz music...
in 1933 and then Wingy Manone
Wingy Manone
Wingy Manone was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. His major recordings included "Tar Paper Stomp", "Nickel in the Slot", "Downright Disgusted Blues", "There'll Come a Time ", and "Tailgate Ramble".- Biography :Manone was born Joseph Matthews Mannone in New Orleans,...
in 1934. He switched to guitar in the middle of the decade and played with Red Norvo
Red Norvo
Red Norvo was one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba and later the vibraphone as viable jazz instruments...
in 1935-1936. He found much work as a studio musician and played in ensembles with Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
(1939), Lennie Hayton
Lennie Hayton
Leonard George "Lennie" Hayton was an American Jewish composer, conductor and arranger. His trademark was the wearing of a captain’s hat, which he always wore at a rakish angle....
, Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet
Charles Daly Barnet was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.His major recordings were "Skyliner", "Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffle".-Early life:...
(1945), Raymond Scott
Raymond Scott
Raymond Scott was an American composer, band leader, pianist, engineer, recording studio maverick, and electronic instrument inventor....
, Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
, Lou Holden, and Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
(1949). He also recorded with Andre Previn in 1945.
He played with Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
in 1942, and while a member of Goodman's ensemble, he fell in love with lead singer Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
, and the pair quit the group to marry in 1943. Soon after they moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
put them to work as a songwriting team, and they wrote a number of Lee's hits, such as "Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)" and "It's a Good Day
It's a Good Day
"It's a Good Day" is a popular song written by Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour and published in 1947.The song has been recorded by many singers since its introduction, most recently by Susie Arioli...
". Barbour was an alcoholic and had domestic troubles with Lee; this eventually split apart their marriage, which ended in 1952. Dave Barbour and His Orchestra had the best-selling version (USA) of the peppy song "Mambo Jambo."
Barbour's remaining career was far less successful than Lee's (who would marry three more times). His songwriting royalties sustained him, as the tunes he co-wrote with Lee were covered by many hitmakers of the 1950s. He acted in the films The Secret Fury
The Secret Fury
The Secret Fury is a 1950 American black-and-white drama film distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, directed by Mel Ferrer.-Plot:A wealthy classical pianist, Ellen, is accused of already being married when she attempts to take her wedding vows; the wedding guests are shocked...
and Mr. Music, and occasionally performed, including with Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
in 1962. He died in 1965 in Malibu Beach, California, aged 53. He is survived by his daughter by Peggy Lee, Nicki Lee Foster (born 1943).