Date of Birth: May 23, 1910
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Date of Death: December 30, 2004
Biography
Artie Shaw, born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky, was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and actor, widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz musicians of his time. Born on May 23, 1910, in New York City, Shaw grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. He started learning the saxophone at the age of 13 and switched to the clarinet a year later. Shaw’s career took off in the 1930s when he formed his own band and quickly became a key figure in the Swing Era. His 1938 recording of “Begin the Beguine” became a massive hit, catapulting him to stardom. Shaw was known for his innovative arrangements and for integrating classical elements into jazz, which was quite revolutionary at the time. Throughout his career, Shaw was also an author and actor, appearing in several films and writing both fiction and non-fiction. He was known for his perfectionism and often disbanded his orchestras at the peak of their success due to his relentless pursuit of artistic excellence. Artie Shaw passed away on December 30, 2004, in Thousand Oaks, California, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence jazz musicians to this day.
5 Interesting Facts about Artie Shaw
1. Artie Shaw was married eight times, including unions with famous actresses like Lana Turner and Ava Gardner.
2. Shaw was a strong advocate for racial integration and hired Billie Holiday as his band’s vocalist, making her one of the first African American singers to tour with a white band.
3. He was a decorated veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and leading a band that performed for troops in the Pacific theater.
4. Shaw was known to be a voracious reader, with a personal library that reportedly contained over 10,000 books.
5. Despite his success in the music industry, Shaw retired from performing in 1954, claiming that he had achieved all he could in music.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Artie Shaw
1. “I can’t hear anything except what I think, and I don’t see anything except what I believe.”
2. “You have no idea of the loneliness and isolation I experienced as a child.”
3. “You have to have a certain amount of stubbornness to achieve anything in life.”
4. “I think that one of the characteristics of people who achieve things in life is that they have a kind of dogged determination.”
5. “I did all you can do with a clarinet. Any more would have been less.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At his peak, Artie Shaw’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
Artie Shaw had two sons, Jonathan Shaw and Steven Kern, from his marriages to Doris Dowling and Ava Gardner, respectively.
Relevant Links
1. [Artie Shaw – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artie_Shaw
2. [Artie Shaw Biography – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0789931/bio
3. [Artie Shaw – Jazz Musician](https://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/shaw-artie
4. [Artie Shaw – History & Biography](https://www.biography.com/musician/artie-shaw
5. [Artie Shaw – AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/artie-shaw-mn0000506483
