After
becoming a bouncer for Harlem's Savoy Ballroom at age 19, he went
on to eventually perform as a singer there. He also performed in
the most noted venues worldwide; including Small’s Paradise,
The Apollo Theater and The Cotton Club.
Around
1940, he fronted Ella Fitzgerald’s band and in 1956, went
on to reside in Israel, where he became a popular recording artist
for the Blue Jazz record label, singing in English and Yiddish.
From there he took Europe by storm performing in Spain, France,
Germany and Holland, sharing the stage with the likes of Louis Armstrong,
Lionel Hampton, Della Reese, Johnny Otis and Cab Calloway to name
a few.
