Benny Meroff

American bandleader, violinist, saxophonist, clarinetist, and songwriter. Born: April 19, 1901 Died March, 1973 (age 71) in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA. Great-grand father of Kevin Clark (21). Meroff began his career on clarinet with Ted Lewis' "Nut" band near the end of World War I. He was principally active in Chicago in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and also played in New York into the 1940s. Around 1936 Benny decided to reorganize his band, along the then-current "swing" style, which was made popular by another Benny...Benny Goodman. The Meroff band also featured comedy bits in its repertoire, and was billed as "Benny Meroff and his Jibe Orchestra."