Perry Botkin Dean of Orchestral Guitarists

Perry Botkin was the guitar hero of Hollywoods Golden Era. He was responsable for many familiar themes on radio and television. A multi-instrumentalist par excellence and early architect of swing guitar.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• martinukulele
• gibsonl5guitar
• plectrumbanjo
• bingcrosby
• aljolson
• beverlyhillbillies
• spikejones
• kraftmusichall

[drfligo]

I'm curious about the photo around 1:40 with the Sons of the Pioneers. Looks like Perry, Karl & Hugh Farr, Bob Nolan, Ken Carson(?), Tim Spencer, Shug Fisher(?) and who is the guy on the far end?

This should be around mid/late WWII, probably at Republic Pictures.

[bakeyandbetty]

Good question. Andy Devine is the guy standing up front. Not sure about the guy on the end. Andy Devine had a morning show in 1944, sponsored by Goodyear. Perry was their band leader.

It was called Melody Roundup.

[Authorized77]

Thanks for this!! Was that a tenor banjo at 2:39? I've wanted to play around with one of those for a while and I think that's just the thing to motivate me :D And the bit about the Beverly Hillbillies was so cool. The music at the beginning reminds me or Birelli recordings that I've seen on youtube.

[bakeyandbetty]

Yes...it is a Paramount style C tenor. Perry tuned it like a uke. Same guitar chord shapes. The standard way to tune one is in fifths like a mandola/viola. Checked out your stuff...you have a great right hand yourself and you seem to be leading quite an interesting life.  Thanks for subscribing.

[Steveway32]

I had made an offer to purchase that one and the seller had to go out of town. The recording sold while he was gone, before he could get back to me.

Steve Conway

[therkilj]

One just sold on ebay yesterday. Keep watch up there.

[Steveway32]

Still looking for Mr. Botkin's recording on Decca records of "Ukey-ukulele" and backed by "Lover" on the "flip" side.

Anyone with any info please post a comment to Steveway32.

Thanks much!

[Steveway32]

Do you happen to know where his recording of Uke-uke can be found?

It has to be one of the best Ukulele solos ever recorded...although the one on this video ain't bad.......

Steveway32

[cwecub]

can someone post all the background music he did for the Beverly Hillbillies..like when they showed the outside of the bank and when Elly May would walk around in an evening gown

[PeteLindup]

Is this the group which made "Sweet Potato Piper" billed as the 'Frying Pan Five'?

[tkhering]

It's Spike Jones behind the fake whiskers at 2:33. Before he organized his City Slickers in 1941, Spike had a band that performed under the names 'The Penny Funnies' and 'The Cinema Fritzers.'

Spike is also visible at 1:03, the fourth from the left. This is a photo of the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, which was Bing Crosby's back up band at the time.

[tkhering]

Is that Benny Goodman on the far left?

[PeteLindup]

Intrigued by the group at 2:38. Looks like Billy May on trumpet but who are the others? Don't look like they're dressed for a recording session!