Johnnie Bomba was born in Chicago. While in the 4th grade at Sacred Heart School. He started playing clarinet with the school band. In 7th grade he already played with local dance bands, and in 8th grade formed his own group. In De La Salle High School he was the first chair alto clarinetist in the concert band. He formed a 15-piece dance band and played dance halls, ballrooms, and hotels. During World War…
Stan was born in South Meriden, Connecticut in 1910. He attended St. Stanislaus School, and after finishing 7th grade, his parents told him they needed some financial support, and Stan had to go to work at age 13. He worked at various jobs: in a silver factory, for a rug company, as a co-manager of a gas station, order expeditor in a factory, and a head receiving clerk in a department store. He…
Ted was born in New York of Polish parentage. While attending Commerce High School, he began his first formal study of music at 13, and formed his first band shortly thereafter in 1935. He played violin and trumpet. During the 1939-1940 World’s Fair, Ted played at the Polish Pavilion of Krakow. In 1939, he entered his band in the Academy of Music Band Contest against fifteen other bands of all types. The Maksymowicz…