b: May 19, 1894 Magdeburg, Gemany ; d: April 23, 1955 Memphis, TN
InTheme: "Hot Lips" (Columbia 2937-D, Decca 198)
OutTheme: "When Day Is Done" (Decca 774)
Henry Busse was a Bandleader, Composer and Trumpeter, with a "wah wah doo" style of blowing.
Henry, a German-American, started his own orchestra in the late 30's He had a long stay in Chicago's Chez Paree. In 1938, the band moved into the Hotel New Yorker sporting it's 'six-eight-time' shuffle rhythm beat. Henry remained active in the band business right up to the time of his death in 1955
While still a teenager, Busse's family immigrated to the U.S. settling in Ohio. In 1918, he moved to San Francisco and formed a band with Paul Whiteman. Whiteman eventually became the leader of the band because Busse was not fluent in English. While with Whiteman, he composed two extremely popular tunes, "Hot Lips" and "When Day Is Done"; both of which became his theme songs when he formed his own band. (When Day Is Done was also used by Whiteman as his closing theme.)
In 1928, Busse left Whiteman to form his own band. In the early 1930's he was based in Chicago's 'The Chez Paree' where he developed what was called a "shuffle rhythm" style of music. Busse eventually moved on to New York City where broadcasts from The New Yorker Hotel spread the band's fame.
The band appeared in a number of film shorts including Paramount's 'Busse Rhythm' (1938); Univeral's 'Shuffle Rhythm' with the Six Hits and A Miss vocal group (1942), and 'Hit Tune Serenade' (1943). During World War II Busse enlarged the band to 19 musicians and appeared regulary on 'The Fitch Bandwagon' and 'Coca Cola Spotlight On Bands' radio shows. He moved to California after the war; although during the late 1940's and 1950's, most of his work came from the few remaining ballrooms in the South and Midwest. In 1954 his band, with the King Sisters, had a very successful engagement at Catalina Island.
Among other vocalists that appeared with the band over the years are Bob Hannon, Carl Grayson, Elaine Bauer, Roberta Lee, Billy Sheman, Skip Moor, and Phil Gray. Busse recorded for the Victor, Columbia, Decca, Cosmo, and Coral labels.
Henry died of a heart attack in 1955 while his band was working at, of all things, an undertaker's convention in Memphis, TN.
Thanks to Mr. Robin Lenhart for his contribution on Heny Busse.
