Jan Savitt

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Jan Savitt (born Jacob Savetnick in Shumsk, Russia September 4, 1907, died October 4, 1948 Sacramento, CA) was an American bandleader, musical arranger, and violinist. He was invited to joined the Philadelphia Orchestra when was only nineteen, having studied at The Curtis Institute and in Europe. His band The Top Hatters was formed in 1937 and began touring the following year. Their songs include "720 in the Books" "It's A Wonderful World" and his theme songs "Quaker City Jazz" and "From Out Of Space". Savitt was one of the first of the Big Band leaders to feature an African American vocalist, George "Bon Bon" Tunnell. His other vocalists were Carlotta Dale, Allan DeWitt, Joe Martin, and Gloria DeHaven. His band names include Jan Savitt & His Top Hatters, the Jan Savitt String Orchestra and Jan Savitt & His Orchestra.