Bill Challis
{{short description|American jazz arranger (1904–1994)}}{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bill Challis
| birth_name = William H. Challis
| birth_date = July 8, 1904
| birth_place = Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = October 4, 1994 (aged 90)
| death_place = Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| genre = Jazz
| instruments = Piano, saxophone
}}
William H. Challis (July 8, 1904 – October 4, 1994) was an American jazz arranger, best known for his association with the Paul Whiteman orchestra.
Early life
Challis was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He played piano and saxophone and was a bandleader at Bucknell University in the early-1920s.{{cite book |title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=1992 |publisher=Guinness Publishing |isbn=0-85112-939-0 |editor=Colin Larkin |edition=First |page=449}}{{Cite web |title=ARRANGER RE-CREATING HIS QUIET MARK ON MUSIC |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1989-03-12-2673392-story.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=The Morning Call|date=12 March 1989 }}
Career
Challis was hired by Jean Goldkette as an arranger in 1926, and moved with Bix Beiderbecke to Paul Whiteman's ensemble in 1927. He wrote scores for Whiteman's full band as well as smaller ensembles drawn from its ranks (such as those led by Frank Trumbauer), and was in part responsible for Beiderbecke's robust representation on Victor Talking Machine Company releases in the late-1920s.
Challis departed from Whiteman's employ in 1930 and did contract arrangements for many major swing-era bands, including the Casa Loma Orchestra, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Lennie Hayton, Fletcher Henderson, Artie Shaw, and Frank Trumbauer. He also arranged for radio broadcasts. Later in his career, he arranged for popular singers and ensembles, including the Casa Loma Orchestra, Bucky Pizzarelli, Glenn Miller, Hoagy Carmichael, the Dorsey Brothers, Coleman Hawkins, and others.
Personal life
Challis died in October 1994, at the age of 90, in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesleader.com/archive/852101/local-music-arranger-had-big-influence-on-big-band-era-wilkes-barres-bill-challis-who-died-tuesday-at-age-90-created-innovative-musical-arrangements-for-some-of-the-most-famous-big-bands-in|title=Local Music Arranger Had Big Influence On Big Band Era Wilkes-barre's Bill Challis, Who Died Tuesday At Age 90, Created Innovative Musical Arrangements For Some Of The Most Famous Big Bands In The United States|date=6 October 1994|website=Timesleader.com|access-date=19 August 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- Dan Morgenstern, "Bill Challis". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld.
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Category:American jazz musicians
Category:Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania