Bob Zurke(1912-1944)
- Music Department
One of the legions of jazz musicians to have lived hard and died young,
pianist and band leader Bob Zurke is best remembered for his
association with Bob Crosby's orchestra. Hard drinking and
undisciplined, Zurke played with various outfits in New York,
Philadelphia, and his native Detroit during the late 1920s and early
1930s. In late 1928 he cut two sides with female band leader Thelma
Terry. In January 1937 he joined Bob Crosby, replacing Joe Sullivan,
who had been hospitalized with tuberculosis. And except for a 1937
hiatus brought on by a broken leg suffered in horseplay with Bob
Haggart, remained with them until the summer of 1939. He then formed
his own short lived big band, and with only average arrangements and a
poor rhythm section, it broke up the following spring.
Zurke was very popular and well respected by jazz fans and musicians alike for his piano work. In 1939 he won Downbeat magazine's poll for best piano player.
Zurke spent a brief period in jail due to alimony problems and continued to work as a pianist, first in Chicago, then moving to Detroit, then to St. Paul, and finally to Los Angeles, where he performed at "The Hangover Club" from August 1942 until his death in 1944. He collapsed while in the club and was taken to Los Angeles General Hospital where he died 24 hours later, only 32 years of age. A month before he died he had recorded the background piano music for the Technicolor cartoon film, "Jungle Jive" which was "a Tour De Force display of keyboard magic".
Zurke was very popular and well respected by jazz fans and musicians alike for his piano work. In 1939 he won Downbeat magazine's poll for best piano player.
Zurke spent a brief period in jail due to alimony problems and continued to work as a pianist, first in Chicago, then moving to Detroit, then to St. Paul, and finally to Los Angeles, where he performed at "The Hangover Club" from August 1942 until his death in 1944. He collapsed while in the club and was taken to Los Angeles General Hospital where he died 24 hours later, only 32 years of age. A month before he died he had recorded the background piano music for the Technicolor cartoon film, "Jungle Jive" which was "a Tour De Force display of keyboard magic".