Bert Lown

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Bert Lown (June 6, 1903-November 2 (or 20), 1962) was a violinist and orchestra leader.

He was born in White Plains, New York. He began as a sideman playing the violin in Fred Hamm's band, and in the 1920s and 1930s he led a series of jazz-oriented dance bands (the most famous being the Biltmore Hotel Orchestra), making a large number of recordings in that period for Victor Records. In 1925 (or 1930), (with Hamm, Dave Bennett, and Chauncey Gray) he composed the well-known standard "Bye Bye Blues." He also wrote some other songs, including "You're The One I Care For" and "Tired." By the mid-1930s he quit leading the orchestras, becoming a booking agent and manager; eventually he left the music industry and moved on to executive positions in the television industry. He died of a heart attack in 1962 in Portland, Oregon.

  • 1929 he recorded for Columbia's cheap labels (Diva, Harmony, and Velvet Tone)
  • 1930 he recorded for the Plaza/ARC dime store labels (including Banner, Cameo, Pathe, Perfect, Jewel, Regal, Conqueror)
  • 1930 he also recorded two sessions for Hit of the Week
  • 1930 he also recorded two sessions for Columbia
  • 1930-1932 he recorded for Victor
  • 1933 while still signed to Victor, his records were assigned to the new Bluebird dime store label (these sides were also released on Electradisk and the super rare Sunrise


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