Bunny Berigan

Biography

Roland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan (1908–1942) was a virtuoso American jazz trumpeter and bandleader, born in Hilbert, Wisconsin, to an Irish-German family. He discovered music early, starting with violin at age six and switching to trumpet by eleven, performing professionally by thirteen. After moving to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1925, Berigan quickly became involved with influential jazz musicians and ensembles, setting the stage for his future in the national jazz scene[2].

Berigan's career took off in the early 1930s as he became a highly sought-after studio musician in New York, recording with major bands and vocalists including the Dorsey Brothers, Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, and more. His technical mastery and expressive style, blending the lyricism of Bix Beiderbecke with the power of Louis Armstrong, made him a standout soloist[1][3]. In 1937, he formed his own orchestra and recorded his signature song, "I Can't Get Started," which became a jazz standard and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame[2][1]. Despite his immense talent and influence, Berigan's struggles with alcoholism led to a decline in his health and career, and he died at just 33 years old.

Berigan's legacy is profound: he was a direct stylistic link between early jazz greats and the next generation of trumpeters, influencing artists such as Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. His more than 600 recordings showcase his ability to make any tune uniquely his own, and his contributions helped define the sound of the Swing Era, especially through his work with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey[2][1].

Fun Facts

• Berigan's 1937 recording of "I Can't Get Started" was so iconic that it became his theme song and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame[1][2].
• He was known for his electrifying live performances, with contemporaries describing his trumpet sound as 'life-changing'[1].
• Berigan played on more than 600 recordings, including sessions for major vocalists like Billie Holiday and Bing Crosby[2].
• Despite his fame, Berigan's own orchestra struggled due to his alcoholism and was often assigned inferior material by his label[2].

Associated Acts

• Bunny Berigan and His Boys - eponymous, original, trumpet
• Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra
• Bunny Berigan and His Blue Boys
• Adrian Rollini and His Orchestra
• Tommy Dorsey and His Sentimentalists
• Jam Session At Victor

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Bix Beiderbecke - Stylistic influence; Berigan fused Beiderbecke's nuanced tonal palette with his own style. (General trumpet style and improvisational approach) [1920s–1930s]
• Louis Armstrong - Major inspiration; Berigan incorporated Armstrong's bravura power and phrasing. (General trumpet style and improvisational approach) [1920s–1930s]

Key Collaborators

• Benny Goodman - Featured soloist; Berigan's trumpet helped launch Goodman as 'King of Swing.' (Benny Goodman Orchestra recordings) [mid-1930s]
• Tommy Dorsey - Band member and guest soloist; later rejoined after leading his own band. (Tommy Dorsey Orchestra recordings) [1930s–1940]
• Billie Holiday - Studio trumpeter for vocal sessions. (Studio recordings for Columbia and other labels) [1930s]
• Paul Whiteman - Band member; contributed trumpet solos. (Paul Whiteman Orchestra recordings) [early 1930s]
• Buddy Rich - Drummer in Berigan's own band. (Bunny Berigan Orchestra recordings) [1937–1938]
• George Auld - Tenor saxophonist in Berigan's band. (Bunny Berigan Orchestra recordings) [1937–1938]

Artists Influenced

• Roy Eldridge - Direct stylistic descendant; Berigan bridged Armstrong's style to Eldridge. (General trumpet style) [1930s–1940s]
• Dizzy Gillespie - Part of the lineage of trumpet innovation Berigan helped establish. (General trumpet style) [1940s]
• Miles Davis - Influenced by Berigan's expressive phrasing and technical mastery. (General trumpet style) [1940s–1950s]
• Clifford Brown - Inherited Berigan's approach to trumpet tone and improvisation. (General trumpet style) [1950s]
• Wynton Marsalis - Acknowledged Berigan as a foundational figure in jazz trumpet history. (General trumpet style) [1980s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. I Can't Get Started (Let's Do It)
2. Ain't She Sweet (Let's Do It)
3. I Can't Get Started - Alternate Take (Let's Do It)
4. There'll Be Some Changes Made (Bunny)
5. I Can't Get Started
6. Sweet Madness (Let's Do It)
7. When I Take My Sugar To Tea (Let's Do It)
8. I Can't Get Started (08-07-37) (Complete Jazz Series 1937)
9. Ain't She Sweet (Bunny)
10. Peg O'my Heart (Swingin' & Jumpin' - Broadcasts 1937-39)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #swing