[ Dick Willebrandts Orch. ]
b. July 29, 1911, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. d. December 29, 1970, Rotterdam, Holland
Played piano from a very early age and played in his brother Philip's band, with Kai Ewans in Denmark and in Germany before joining 'Jack and Louis de Vries' Internationals' in 1935. In 1937 he replaced Ernst van 't Hoff in the AVRO Dansorkest with which he remained until May 1940. He was mainly active as an accompanist of radio stars until the summer of 1942, when he was financially supported by an unknown Rotterdam businessman to form a big band. He lured some of the best musicians away from the AVRO Dansorkest and raided Ernst van 't Hoff's big band and built an outstanding orchestra which was generously featured on the German controlled Nederlandsche Omroep, and was given a lucrative Decca-recording contract. A modest body of work, these recordings (and a number of surviving transcriptions for the Deutscher Europasender) give evidence of a fine orchestra, with competent soloists (most notably Kees de Bruijn on tenorsax and Willebrandts himself on piano), good arrangements and a saxophone section that set a hitherto unknown European standard. From August 1943 onwards the Willebrandts orchestra was forced to play for the Deutsche Europasender, broadcasting propaganda programmes to Britain. Contrary to the infamous "Charlie and his Orchestra", Willebrandts played Anglo-American swing music without propaganda lyrics. In Oktober 1944. the band was dissolved because of the grave war situation. Willebrandts was never again to lead a big band. After the Liberation he played in various radio orchestras until he was forced to give up full-time music when he suffered a heart attack in 1963. He died in 1970 almost a forgotten man.
The Big Bands Database thanks Mr. Joost Kiefte for this entry on Dick Willebrandts.

   [ Frank Witkowski Orch. ]
Currently No Information Available.

   [ Henry Wars Orch. ]
b. December 29, 1902, Warsaw, Poland, d. Sept. 1, 1977, Los Angeles, California, USA
né: Henryk Warszawski. aka: Henryk Wars. aka; Henry Vars
Born to a musical Jewish family in the Russian partition of Poland, Wars began studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, but soon obtained a scholarship to the Music Conservatory in Warsaw, where he studied under the prominent professors: Roman Statkowski and Emil Młynarski, who was also the director of the Warsaw Symphony Hall. Wars graduated in 1925, yet instead of beginning his "serious" music career, he turned towards jazz. In 1927, he attained the recognition of the theatre and cabaret producers as the author of the jazz composition "New York Times", performed on stage by the popular singer Tadeusz Olsza. Yet his first really great hit became "Zatańczmy tango" ("Let's Dance tango") which became the onset of his brilliant career as the number one composer of the most popular "schlager" for the most popular singers as Mieczysław Fogg, Hanka Ordonowna or the first Polish revellers band 'Chór Dana'. His great pre-war hits, e.g. Hanka Ordonowna's English waltz "Miłość ci wszystko wybaczy" ("Love Will Forgive You Everything"), Eugeniusz Bodo's tango "Umówiōem sie; z nia na dziewiata" ("I Have A Date With Her At Nine") and a foxtrot Już taki jestem zimny dran" ("Look What A Rascal I Am") or Tola Mankiewiczówna's slow foxtrot "Powróćmy jak za dawnych lat ("Let's Remember Old Days Like We Used To") are still played or performed by contemporary Polish singers or bands, and their popularity in Poland can only be compared with those of Irving Berlin's or Cole Porter's evergreens in the United States.

In 1930, Henryk Wars composed his first film score for 'Na Sybir' (To Siberia), starting his collaboration with the movie productions he continued until the outbreak of WWII, and later on his emigration to the United States. His filmography till 1939 includes numerous Polish musical comedies or romantic thrillers like "Jego Ekselencja Subiekt" ("His Excellence The Salesman"), "Jaśnie pan szofer" ("His Grace The Driver"), "Szpieg w masce" ("A Spy In the Mask"), "Pietro wyzej" ("Upstairs") or the last Polish film comedy finished before September 1939 "Zapomniana melodia" ("The Forgotten Tune"), with at least three evergreen melodies "Już nie zapomnisz mnie" ("Now You Won't Forget Me Any More"), "Panie Janie!" ("Wake up, Mr John") or "Ach, jak przyjemnie" ("Oh, How Pleasant It Is"). Circa 1934, being a leader of Henryk Wars Orchestra, he was engaged as the director of the music section for the Syrena Elektro record company, where he could freely promote, in Poland, the newest trends in both small and big-band jazz accompaniments.

  "Panie Janie!" ("Wake Up, Mister John!"), (426 kb):- Adam Aston (Adolf Loewensohn) vocal, with the 'Orkiestra Henryka Warsa' (Recorded: Syrena Electro 1938). (Courtesy of Dr. Grzegorz Musial, and here digitally re-engineered.)

  "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön", (547 kb): The Henryk Wars Orchestra with Polish vocal by Mieczysław Fogg. Rec'd: Syrena-Electro, 1938. (digitally re-mastered)

Wars was drafted into the Polish Army at the outbreak of World War II, and served in the September 1939 Campaign. During the fighting, he was taken prisoner by the German army but managed to escape from a stopped train. When the 1939 struggle ended, Wars resumed his musical career. In 1940, he founded the big band 'Tea-Jazz' in Lwów, -then under Soviet control. In late 1941, he and his musicians joined the Polish II Corps of General Anders as part of the Polska Parada cabaret. After demobilization, he emigrated to the United States.

In the USA he changed his named to Henry Vars and resumed his musical career in Hollywood. His songs were sung by Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Brenda Lee and Dinah Shore. He did the music and the song for both the "Flipper" movie and TV series, as well as for 74 films.
The Big Bands Database thanks Dr. Grzegorz Musial for his help with the above Henryk Wars entry, and for the song "Panie Janie!". Dr. Musial Grzegorz is by education a medical doctor, and by second profession, a writer and a poet, author of numerous books of poetry and prose, a member of Polish Writers' Association, and the Polish PEN Club..

   [ Orchester Eddy Walis ], most active 1928 - '32
aka: Eddie Walis
b. August 16, 1900, The Hague ('s-Gravenhage), Belgium, d. Oktober 16, 1966, Santa Monica, California, USA. (some sources say b. 1906)
né: Eduard Weiszfisz
Early on, Eddy Wallis, studied the violin at the Amsterdamer Conservatoire, in Holland. In the 1920s, he moved to Berlin, Germany where he freelanced, playing at various cabarets. Then in 1927, he formed his own "Jazz" orchestra (also "Jazz Symphony Orchestra") which was recorded on different labels (Audiphon, BuScha, Clangor, Hertie, Phonycord Flexibel, Sonora, Tempo).

From 1927-1932, Wallis recorded primarily for Hermanna Maassena's Czech 'Artiphon' label (later absorbed by Hermann Eisner in Berlin, Germany). Among the stars who appeared with the band were Karla Hrušky, Járy Pospšla, Bořka Rujana, Lva Uhlře and Jaroslava Zlonického. The band played a wide variety of dance, film music, opera and Operettas. Among the songs he recorded were "Singin' in the Rain", "Little Pal", "I'm In The Seventh Heaven", "Waiting for You" amd "Oh! Mo'nah", often sung in both German and English by such vocalists as Con Conway, Eric Helgar, Erwin Hartung and Eugen Rex.

In Germany, Wallis also recorded for the "Brilliant" label under the name of 'R. A. Dvorského and his Melody Boys', and also as 'Joe London and his Orchester' (the song "Good Night, Sweetheart"). He subsequently recorded as Eddy Wallis on the Berlin record label "Lukra". In 1932, the orchestra became resident at Berlin's famed Hotel Eden.

In 1933, when the National Socialists (NAZI) came to power in Germany, he moved back to Holland. where he played in Rotterdam (at the Café Caland), at Hilversum, and in 1934 in Luxembourg. During this time, his band worked under such names as the 'Fantasia Orkest', 'Esmeralda Orkest' and 'Rosian Orkest' Among the notable soloists who worked with Eddy Wallis at that time were such stars as pianist Isja Rossican, trumpeter Clara de Vries, sister of jazz musician Jacka de Vries and Louise de Vries.

When the German army invaded Holland, Walis, who was Jewish, was imprisoned in the Amsterdam ghetto, where he worked with other famous Jewish musicians including Paul Godwin, pianist Heinz Lachmann, and clarinetist Martin Roman

In 1945, when the war ended in Europe, Wallis' new orchestra was heard broadcasting from the Hilversum (Holland) radio station. In 1947, his orchestra was resident at the Bussum restaurant. In 1952, he appeared at the Jerusalem (Israel) coffee-house 'Tifereth'.
The Big Bands Database Plus thanks Dr. Dieter H. Meyer for all his help with the above Eddy Wallis entry.

   [ Benny de Weille Orch. ]
b. March 6, 1915, Lubeck, Germany, d. Dec. 17, 1977.
Currently no information available. aka: Benny de Weill
Overeview:
"Benny was a clarinetist/bandleader, who was most active during the 1940s (the World War II years). Early in his career, he played with some Dutch orchestras. de Weille did marry, apparently, a Dutch woman, with whom he had at least one child, Kamille Lilly van Heel, born in 1938, Holland. His idol was Benny Goodman, and he led his own Quartet in Goodman's style." In addition to leading a quartet, he also recorded as 'Benny De Weille Und Sein Tanzorchester', and 'Benny de Weille mit dem Polydor-Tanzorchester' among other names.

During WWII, the Nazis organized a "propaganda" band known as "Charlie and His Orchestra", Originally, it was just the Lutz Templin Orchestra, and when Karl "Charlie" Schwedler sang, they were dubbed "Charlie and his Orchestra". The orchestra played American and English songs during which "Charlie" would first sing the true lyric, and then a new lyric parodying Churchill, Roosevelt and the Allied Forces. Both the orchestra's personnel and leader changed from time to time. The version led by Lutz Templin had Benny de Weille playing clarinet. (Other members of the band included Meg Tevellian on guitar, de Weill clarinet, Franz Mueck on piano, Eugen Henkel on tenorsax and drummer Freddie Brocksieper.) (Visitors to our site, may wish to peruse our "Jazz Age Songs", pages where they may hear "Charlie and His Orchestra" playing some of their propaganda tunes.)

After World War II ended, de Weille appeared (at least three times) on film; 'Kommen Sie am Ersten' (1951), playing himself, leading his orchestra, then 'Unter den tausend Laternen' (1952) where he played the orchestra leader, and finally 'Musik, Musik und nur Musik' -1955

As a composer, he wrote several Tangos, including "Je vous aime", and the beautiful tango "Laß uns träumen am Lago Maggiore" ("Let Us Dream on Lake Maggiore". Music by de Weille, with lyric by Heinz Woezel). (excerpt from Brede's Accordion Tango)

Among the vocalists who appeared with his orchestra include Kary Barnet, Sven Olof Sandberg, Kirsten Heiberg, Jenny Even, Margot Hielscher, and "Geschwister Waltonen" (who were the Finnish performers known as "The Harmony Sisters" who sang the hit "Ich hab' dich und Du hast mich", recorded in 1942, in Germany during WWII.)

   [ Horst Winter Orch. ]
b. Sept. 24, 1914, Beuthen, Upper Silesia, Germany (now Bytom, Poland), d. Dec. 3, 2001, Vienna Austria
German clarinettist, saxist and singer,
Horst Winter first studied Classical music in Berlin. In 1930, Winter having to earn money for the family when his father died, led a student dance band, playing the saxophone and later the clarinet. In 1934, he left classical music for good and became a full time dance band leader. His band played engagements in such posh Berlin night clubs as the 'Ciro Bar' and the 'Carlton Bar'. Around 1937, he discovered his ability to sing, and, after serving as a conscript in the German army, he became a much sought after vocalist. His style was comparable to that of Denny Dennis and Jean Sablon, and as a consequence he was inevitably dubbed "the German Bing Crosby". From 1940 onwards, he recorded free lance with many name bands (Michael Jary, Willi Berking, Hans Rehmstedt, Teddy Kleindin, Lutz Templin, and Ernst van 't Hoff, and others).

The Tempo label gave Winter the opportunity to record with studio bands of various sizes and Winter went at it with a vengeance. He employed some of the leading European musicians (from visiting bands such as Van 't Hoff, Tulio Mobiglia, and Jean Omer, etc.) as well as the better German swing musicians such as Benny de Weille, Detlev Lais, Charlie Tabor, Franz Mck etc. Winter produced many fine small and big band sides with himself in a leading role as clarinettist and singer. Most sides have stood the test of time very well, and they stand out as examples of what dedicated musicians in Nazi Germany could and did do (notwithstanding the official ban on Jazz). Listen to the 1941 Horst Winter Orchestra playing "Sie Will Nicht Blumen und Nicht Schokolade" As the course of the war turned against Germany most recording activities stopped, and Winter was sent to Belgrade (Yugoslavia).

(After the war Winter went to Austria. One reader (Mr. Roger Edgington) has mentioned that circa 1947 - 1950, Horst played at Vienna's Wintergarden.) In Austria, he became leader of the 'Wiener Tanzorchester' (from 1950 onwards the 'Horst Winter Tanzorchester') that more or less carried on in the style of Winter's studio bands of the war years. Featured mainly as a singer, he managed to carry on until 1977 when he was awarded a professorship and became the leader of the marching band Hoch- und Deutschmeister (which dates back to 1741) which he succesfully led until 1998. Plagued by illness he was forced to resign and he died in 2001. One double cd (Koch, 1994) and a single cd (Universal, 2003) attest to Winter's bands fine musical legacy.
The BigBands Database Plus thanks Mr. Joost Kiefte for contributing the above information on Horst Winter

   [ WDR Big Band ] aka: [ Cologne Radio Band ]
No further information currently available.
The 1963 line-up for this band, -under the direction of M.D. John Clayton, was:
Heiner Wiberny, Harald Rosenstein, Olivier Peters, Rolf Roemer, Jens Neufang (reeds),
Andy Haderer, Rob Bruinen, Klaus Osterloh, Rick Kiefer, John Marshall (trumpets),
Dave Horler, Henning Berg, Bernt Laucamp, Roy Deuvall (trombones),
Frank Chastenier (piano), John Goldsby (bass) and Jeff Hamilton (drums).
Ron Simmonds (trumpet) kindly supplied the above line-up, while bandleader Timothy Colwell has recalled that "...Dave Horler's father, trumpeter Ronnie Horler was a top pro Big Band musician and later played in my own band... and is still doing more gigs than me , at 84!! His other son ,John, is rated in the top 5 of our (British -ed.) Jazz pianists and has been singer Cleo Laine's accompianist for many years.....talented lot, indeed."

   [ Sam Wooding Orch. ]
b. June 17, 1895, Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. August 1, 1995, New York, NY, USA
(Also see the Lud Gluskin entry, in the American Bands Database, for some notes on Wooding.)
Overview
As leader of a 'pit' band, "The Chocolate Kiddies", Sam Wooding had already become one of the most traveled American band leaders in Europe, having been in Germany, Scandinavia, France, Russia, Turkey, Roumania, Hungary and Great Britain. He then re-formed the orchestra as a dance band and continued traveling in Italy, Spain and France before settling briefly at The Embassy Club, 17 rue Caumartin, Paris, where the band was also cut some now rare records for Pathe.

Here's a photo (source unknown) of the Sam Wooding Orchestra. In the upper right hand corner, one can faintly discern the date July 1925. (Personnel Seated - Left to Right: Tommy Ladnier (trumpet), John Warren (tuba)(behind), Sam Wooding (piano/leader), Willie Lewis (reeds), George Howe (drums). Standing - Left to Right: Herb Flemming (trombone), Eugene Sedric (reeds), Johnny Mitchell (banjo), Bobby Martin (trumpet), Garvin Bushell (reeds), Maceo Edwards (trumpet).

Some of the sides were later re-released by Warren K. Plath on an album (1980) entitled "Black and White Jazz in Europe, 1929", with trumpeter "Doc" Cheatham greatly helping in determining the personnel in the band, - the information appearing for the first time.
Bobby Martin, Doc Cheatham, trumpets; Al Wynn, Billy Burns, trombones; Willie Lewis, Jerry Blake, Gene Sedric, saxes/clarinets; Freddy Johnson, Sam Wooding, piano; John Mitchell, banjo/guitar; "King" Edwards, bass; Ted Fields, drums. Vocal Trio, Willie Lewis, Gene Sedric and Ted Fields.

Among the records that the band recorded while at the Embassy Club in Paris, October 24, 1929
1. "Hallelujah" (300481-1) Pathe X-8696. Scat Vocal and trombone, Al Wynn; trumpet, Bobby Martin.

2. "Downcast Blues" (300482-1) Pathe X-8684. Tenor Sax, Gene Sedric; trumpet, Bobby Martin; Clarinet and falsetto voice, Willie Lewis; baritone voice, Al Wynn; trombone, Billy Burns.

Paris, November 1929 (Cheatham and Blake are replaced by Harry Cooper and Ralph James)
3. "She's Funny That Way" (300502-1) Pathe X-8693. Vocal, Willie Lewis; trombone, Billy Burns; trumpet, Harry Cooper; piano, Freddy Johnson; tenor sax, Gene Sedric; banjo, John Mitchell.

4. "I Lift Up My Finger and I Say, 'Tweet, Tweet'" (300503-1) Pathe X-8693. Vocal, Willie Lewis; tenor sax, Gene Sedric; trumpet, Bobby Martin.

5. "Button Up Your Overcoat" (300508-1) Pathe X-8696. Vocals, Willie Lewis, Bobby Martin; baritone sax, unidentified; clarinet, Gene Sedric; trumpet, Harry Cooper; trombone, Al Wynn.

Paris, December, 1929 (June Cole replaces Edwards)
6. "Breakaway" (300539-1) Pathe X-8707. Trombone, Billy Burns; clarinet, Gene Sedric; vocal trio, Lewis, Sedric and Fields; scat vocal, Al Wynn.

   [ Weintraub's Syncopators ], 1920s - '30s
né: Stefan Weintraub
AKA: "The Weintraubs". (Recorded on Odeon, Electrola/HMV, Kristall, Electrocordy, Columbia)
Here's a very early photograph of The Weintraub Syncopators, a German band that greatly influenced some Basle (Switzerland) high school students to form their own Lanigiros Syncopating Melody Kings, ensemble. Weintraub's Syncopators was one of Germany's most famous Jazz bands and their music perhaps best expressed that effervescent joy of life and spirit of arts that typified 1920's Berlin. (In the popular speech of the day, names were often shortened. So that, for example, "Lanigiro's Syncopating Melody Kings" were simply referred to as "The Lanigiros". And, so too, "The Weintraub Syncopators" were known simply as 'The Weintraubs".) It was the first steps for the city of Berlin into the new world of American Jazz, with Stefan Weintraub playing and struggling to keep up with the most recent trends from the U.S.A.

    "Up and At 'Em", (532 kb): "Friedrich Hollaender und seine Weintraub's Syncopators". Rec'd: Odeon. February 15, 1928.

    "Mit Einem Herzen Darf Man Nicht Spielen", (520 kb): (English: "One Shouldn't Play with a Heart"). The Weintraubs Syncopators. Recorded: Electrola. August 9, 1929.

  "Jericho". ( 1930 Electrola recording). It was the height of the "Roaring '20s", but much of the world still used horse drawn carriages to get around. Yet, this recording has a remarkably modern sound to it.

'The Weintraubs" not only appeared in all the concert and music halls, but were even starred in films like "The Blue Angel", that starred a young Marlene Dietrich, bringing her world fame. They became one of the best-paid ensembles in all Germany.

     VIDEO: "Weintraub Syncopaters"   In Berlin, 1932, the orchestra:Weintraub Syncopaters with Friedrich Holländer at the piano. (film clip: jozefsterkens )

     VIDEO: "Trude Berline and Siegfried Arno -1931 Berlin"   The same two great stars of the pre-1933 musical life in Berlin, being both Jewish they had to leave 2 years later. Happily, they survived the holocaust living in the USA. (film clip: jozefsterkens )

In 1933, the Weintraubs were on an international concert tour when the Nazi's seized power. With the majority of the band members being Jews, Stefan decided not to return to Germany. Thus started a long successful musical odyssey that took them from Italy to Scandinavia and to Russia, and then from Eastern Europe to Japan and China, and finally, in 1937, settling in Australia. The Weintraub's were a world-wide success and were heard on Australian radio, as well in many Clubs. But, in 1941, after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the German members of the orchestra were forcibly interned - and so 'The Weintraubs' ceased to exist. The band's history has been documented in a Jorg SuBenbach and Klaus Sander 52 minute film, WEINTRAUB'S SYCOPATORS (to the Other End of the World). (The film may still be available.) Their fascinating story is told with archival material including footage from private sources and much music.

   [ Friedrich "Fritz" Weber Orchester ]
b: Jan. 24, 1909, Koeln, Germany; d: June 9, 1984, Koeln, Germany.
Instruments: Violin, singing
Tag: "The singing violonist"
Here's a 1939 photograph of "Fritz" Weber, with saxophonist Lubo D'Orio standing next to him. Weber studied violin at Cologne's Rheini School of Music. In 1929, he formed a Quintet that played in the Rhine pavilion in Rodenkirchen (Cologne). The group played at various other venues, mostly in Western Germany, until 1934 when they became resident in Berlin, playing at the Kakadu Bar. Further commitments in Berlin followed, including a 1935 appearance at the Europa Spiegelsaal. In 1936, his orchestra reached the final round of the competition organized by the Reich's Broadcast Service for the best German orchestra. In 1937, and again in 1940, he was resident at Berlin's Delphi Palace. After the World War II, he worked until 1960 again with his own group in Westdt. His groups were often recorded.

   [ Marek Weber Orch. ]
b: Oct. 25, 1888, Lemberg (Galizia); d: Feb. 9, 1964, Chicago, IL, USA.
Instrument: Violin.
Here's a photo of Marek Weber. In 1906, at age 17, Marek came to Berlin where he studied music at the Stern Conservatory. At just age 20, he formed his own band which was heard at Berlin's Cafe Schoen, and in the Eden Cafe and Esplanade Hotel. In 1926, he was resident at Berlin's famed Hotel Adlon. His orchestra was also heard in concerts, in the large Schauspielhaus, among other places. Here's the Marek Weber orchestra, ca. late 1920s, playing "Es Muß Was Wunderbares Sein" ("It Must Be Marvelous"), and then this lovely tango "Sündig und Süss", (521 kb). In 1929, Weber recorded the hit song "You're The Cream In My Coffee", (763 kb)

Circa 1933, Weber led what can be described as a "classical" Berlin city hotel orchestra, -perhaps the most well-known beside the Dajos Bela Orchester. In 1933, he traveled to England where he appeared in films, and later traveled to Switzerland and many other European countries. In 1937, Marek emigrated to the USA, where he found a career first as " Radio's Waltz King " and then as a farm owner. Here are some photos of Marek Weber when he was in America leading the orchestra on the Carnation Condensed Milk, radio program. (The show was aired over the NBC "Red" network, whose flagship station was WEAF in New York City. NBC also owned the "Blue" network whose flagship station was WJZ also in New York. For those interested in such things, NBC was also instrumental in forming 'White', "Orange", and "Gold" network. The "Blue" was eventually sold to Edward Noble who renamed it ABC.) Over his career, his bands were recorded innumerable times, and Marek had a big hit with his 1927 recording of "Crazy Words".

[ Gerhard (and Kurt) Wehner Orch. ]
b: Dec. 30, 1916, Berlin, Germany. d: March 11, 1994, Leinfelden, Echterdingen, Germany.
Instrument: Piano.
Gerhard Wehner received his musical training in Berlin. In the 1930s, he was a pianist in the orchestras of Will Glahe, Hermann Rohrbeck, and Carlo Minari. In 1936, and his older brother Kurt ("Curry") who was also a pianist, formed their own orchestra, which was active till Oct. 31, 1944. In 1941, Gerhard cut some records with the singer Gertie Schonfelder, Eugen Henkel on tenor sax, Walter Leschetizky on violin, and Serge Matul on the guitar. In 1949, after serving in the German armed forces during WW II, Gerhard Wehner again formed his own band which was active in Berlin. In 1951, he was a pianist in the Sud Rundfunk 'Orchester Erwin Lehn'. In 1963, Gerhard Wehner and his ensemble played in the Stuttgart area. In addition to his playing, Gerhard (often with his brother Kurt) composed many songs.

   [ Heinrich "Heinz" Wehner & his Telefunken Swing-Orchester ]
aka: Tanzorchester Heinz Wehner
b. May 21, 1908, Westfalen, Germany, d. (disappeared 1945 while fighting on the Eastern (Russia) Front)
Heinz Wehner, who had studied violin, singing and trumpet in Berlin, began leading bands in the 1920s. In 1934, he founded a ten piece Swing band which played several venues in Berlin, and was offered a recording contract by Telefunken in 1935. He recorded several hot sides such as "White Jazz" and "Bugle Call Rag" in a surprisingly aggressive style. In the beginning, the band was far from refined (loud and fast were still considered by many to be the main characteristics of Jazz), but the rough edges got polished off as the years passed. Wehner's band in those years was Teddy Stauffer's main rival as the best German Swing band. Wehner, who featured himself mainly as a singer (with a heavy accent when phonetically singing in English), maintained a Swing oriented policy (for a time his orchestra was even dubbed "und sein Telefunken Swing Orchester") and certainly his recordings from 1938 onwards (among them "Bye Bye Blues" and "Aunt Hagar's Blues"), when the band was enlarged to fourteen musicians, show a band quite proficient in the Swing idiom (applying European standards). Listen to the band playing "You're Mine Tonight", and from 1938, the song "Sag' mir schnell "Gut' Nacht", with vocal refrain.

In the late 1930s, a tour of Sweden was very succesful. Earwitness accounts relate that during live performances the band was much "hotter" than it's surviving recordings suggest. This style of music was frowned upon by the German (Nazi) authorities, and Wehner was warned several times to bring his musical policy more in line with the official requirements. The war ended Wehner's career. While serving in the German armed forces, he did manage to record a few sides with a studio band during leave. He was also a guest vocalist with Karol Vlach's orchestra in Prague on a 1944 recording. Heinz Wehner disappeared somewhere on the Eastern Front in 1945. In 1958 he was officially pronounced dead.
The BigBands Database Plus thanks Mr. Joost Kiefte for contributing the above information on Horst Winter

   [ Eugen Wolff mit seinem Tanzorchester ]
Currently No Information Available.
Listen to the band playing "Krautschuk", in 1938.

   [ Kurt Widmann u. s. Tanzorchester ]
b: March 2, 1906, Berlin, Germany; d: Nov. 27, 1954, Berlin, Germany.
Trombone, Accordion, Vocals.
Here's a photo of the Kurt Widmann Orchester. Kurt was a native of Berlin, and was a 'Swing Expert' who first played the Accordion, and later the trombone. In 1933, he led a quintet and was resident at the Hotel Imperator. The Nazi authorities warned him about his "Jewish" repertoire, and Widmann began recording using various "English" aliases such as Billy Blackmoore, and (in 1938) John Webb. He had to drop these English sounding aliases when England and Germany were at War. When World War II ended, his orchestra found work in the clubs of the American Sector of Berlin. Listen now to the Widmann band playing "Star of Rio", from the 1940 film "Star of Rio".