Ben Pollack was born June 22, 1903, in Chicago, Illinois. He took up the drums as a teenager, inspired by jazz emanating from Chicago nightclubs.
Pollack became a fan of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. He talked his way into the group to sit in and soon was the band’s drummer. He made his recording debut with the NORK in 1923.
Shortly thereafter, Pollack headed west where he eventually took over Harry Baisden’s band for a year’s residency at the Venice Ballroom. After the end of his California engagement, Pollack returned to Chicago with Gil Rodin, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller. He recorded four numbers for Victor in December 1926, including “He’s the Last Word” which has the first notable recorded solos by Goodman and Miller.
In 1927 Pollack hired Jimmy McPartland, and, after a move to New York the following year, he discovered Jack Teagarden. At that point, Ben Pollack was at the height of his success, performing not only at the Park Central Hotel but in the stage show Hello Daddy.
By 1929, Pollack decided he wanted to be a crooning conductor. As the Depression loomed, he increasingly played more commercial music. The band continued to enjoy success through the early 1930s, and maintained a high level of musicianship. But Ben’s singing was not helping
