Jazz Musician. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he was a bandleader and organized an orchestra in the 1920's that was styled for dancing called "Barney Rapp and His New Englanders." Rapp later moved to Cleveland, Ohio and then on to Cincinnati, Ohio. His band became a regional attraction and recorded several albums on RCA Victor and Bluebird. Rapp, normally the band's drummer, also broadcasted on the radio and owned a nightclub in Cincinnati where his band frequently played. His band was active throughout the 1940's and featured several artists who later rose to fame. Rapp helped to launch the career of Doris Day who started out as a vocalist in his band when she was 14. Rapp was responsible for convincing her to change her name to Doris Day. He also recommended the Clooney Sisters, Rosemary and Betty, to bandleader Tony Pastor after hearing them sing on the radio in Cincinnati when they were teenagers in 1947. Many others started out in his band including; Eddie Ryan, Bunny Welcome, Marty Quinto, and his younger brother, Barry Wood, who went on to perform with Buddy Rogers. A featured singer with Rapp's band, Ruby Wright, later married him. Rapp also appeared in a motion picture in Hollywood. He died in Cincinnati in 1970 when he was 70 years old.
Jazz Musician. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he was a bandleader and organized an orchestra in the 1920's that was styled for dancing called "Barney Rapp and His New Englanders." Rapp later moved to Cleveland, Ohio and then on to Cincinnati, Ohio. His band became a regional attraction and recorded several albums on RCA Victor and Bluebird. Rapp, normally the band's drummer, also broadcasted on the radio and owned a nightclub in Cincinnati where his band frequently played. His band was active throughout the 1940's and featured several artists who later rose to fame. Rapp helped to launch the career of Doris Day who started out as a vocalist in his band when she was 14. Rapp was responsible for convincing her to change her name to Doris Day. He also recommended the Clooney Sisters, Rosemary and Betty, to bandleader Tony Pastor after hearing them sing on the radio in Cincinnati when they were teenagers in 1947. Many others started out in his band including; Eddie Ryan, Bunny Welcome, Marty Quinto, and his younger brother, Barry Wood, who went on to perform with Buddy Rogers. A featured singer with Rapp's band, Ruby Wright, later married him. Rapp also appeared in a motion picture in Hollywood. He died in Cincinnati in 1970 when he was 70 years old.
Bio by: K Guy
Family Members
Spouse
Advertisement
See more Rapp memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
