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John (Johnny) Alexander McGhee - Trumpeter, Big Band Leader 10/03/1903 – 07/03/1978 Born 3 October 1905 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Died 3 July, 1978 Huntington, New York, USA. Early life John's father, John Charles McGhee born in Glasgow, Scotland. He arrived on 23rd August, 1887 arrived in New York on the Steamship State of Georgia. His Mother Sara was born in Yorkshire. His parents were invited to work in Carpet Mills in Philadelphia. John was the oldest of 4 siblings born in Philadelphia. His Father played cornet in a brass band in Philadelphia, and young John wished to follow in his footsteps. However, for some reason he did not want his son John to play the instrument; would hide the horn forcing young John to search for it to practise on his own. Young John began playing drums, but gave it up when Trolley buses would not stop for him and his large Bass Drum. He attended school until about the 8th grade when he left to help support the family. At age 15 he concentrated on trumpet and began playing with groups in Philadelphia. He progressed to bigger and better bands as his reputation grew.

Early Career Featured Trumpet with Milt Shaw's Detroiters. Performed with Ray Duff's Band. 1930 was with the Dick Wharton Orchestra in Philadelphia. In 1932 he married Mary Katherine Bowden from Chincoteague, Virginia and between 1932/33 he toured with the Smith Ballew Orchestra. In 1933 he was on staff at WCAU in Philadelphia. Toured with Jan Savitt 1935. Then Benny Goodman's manager, a former roommate, encouraged him to leave Savitt to join Benny Goodman. After several months he left Goodman over a wage dispute and rejoined Savitt. Moved to NYC in 1936 and recorded with many artist including Louis Armstrong, Andrew Sisters, Red Nichols, Glenn Miller, Adrian Rollini, Cozy Cole, Billy Kyle, Jack Teagarden, Richard Himber, Dick Robertson and others. He was with the Russ Morgan Essex House Band in New York and the Vincent Lopez Orchestra. Pre War Johnny played at the Strand theatre, NY where he was also the master of ceremonies. "I was scared to death", said Johnny, "I had never spoken to an audience in my life." He then went to work in the Hotel Syracuse where he also had 'air time'. A recent release of Louis Armstrong's Decca Recordings of 1935-46 reveals that Louis was backed by a group of studio performers known as the Decca House Band which included Johnny McGhee on trumpet playing tunes such as, Naturally and I have a pocket full of Dreams.[]. Johnny's son John remembers his father telling a story of cutting a record with Louis Armstrong on wax cylinders in a stifling hot studio one summer. The stifling heat caused all the musicians to strip to their underwear to complete the recording. War Years In 1939 he started his own band, the Johnny McGhee Orchestra. To appeal to the larger Irish audience, he changed the spelling of his last name to McGee. He was labeled as “1940's Number 1 Hot Trumpeter”. He was getting lots of coast to coast Radio broadcast time being featured over the NBC network. Nick Kenny, the NY Daily Mirror's radio editor and a popular columnist, wrote “...its amusing and educational to see the way the country's ace songwriters are clamouring for Johnny McGee to introduce their songs. The world has gone trumpet mad, and when Johnny toots an obbligato to a new song on his trumpet the song goes places.” George Simon, JAZZ critic at Metronome magazine said “... Johnny McGhee plays more in the style of Bix Beiderbecke than any other trumpeter living.” Hard times hit the orchestra in 1940 and the Petrillo BMI strike [] orchestra leaders were suddenly without music to play[] During this time Johnny made a series of recordings for Varsity Records the tracks include: Tiny Old Town, Sierra Sue, Let There Be Love, A Lover's Lullaby and Anitra’s Dance. His band toured the East Coast of USA until World War11 disrupted all business including music. He attempted to take the Band into the Military like other Big Bands of the day, such as Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw, but unfortunately was found to be deaf in one ear and was declared 4F essentially ending his Big Band career. He then moved on and replaced Billy Butterfield in a trumpet chair on the Staff at NBC in New York. He loved this job as it had regular hours, good pay and ample time to practise. Later Life Johnny reinvented himself as a successful Real Estate Broker and appraiser in Pennsylvania. In 1984 the love of his life Mary Katherine died and he moved to Berlin, West Germany to live with his son's family. He then moved with his son's family to Tokyo, Japan and then to Huntington, NY where he passed away.