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Tex Beneke

Personal Profile

Tex Beneke
  • Birth Name:
    Gordon Lee Beneke
  • Date of Birth:
    February 12, 1914
  • Zodiac Sign:
    Aquarius
  • Place of Birth:
    Fort Worth, Texas, United States
  • Place of Death:
    Costa Mesa, California,United States
  • Date of Death:
    May 30, 2000
  • Sex:
    Male
  • Nationality:
    American

Family

Tex Beneke

    Career

    Tex Beneke

    Trivia

    Tex Beneke
    • Big band singer/saxophonist.
    • In 1946, at the request of Glenn Miller's widow, Beneke took over leadership of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
    • Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1996.
    • Tex was an active ham radio operator until his death, his callsign was K0HWY. His wife was also a licensed ham (W2EHR, but the license lapsed).
    • He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6200 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
    • Saxophonist Tex Beneke is best remembered for his long association with Glenn Miller.
    • Beneke began his career performing in regional bands in the Oklahoma and Texas area.
    • He joined Ben Young in 1935 and traveled to Detroit with Young's group in 1937.
    • There he was heard by fellow saxophonist Sam Donahue, who recommended him to his then boss, Gene Krupa.
    • Krupa couldn't hire Beneke but knew Miller was putting together a new outfit and informed the bandleader about him.

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