Gene Rodemich

Gene Rodemich
Gene Rodemich
	St Louis, Missouri
Died	February 27, 1934, age 43; New York
Nationality	American
Occupation(s)	band leader, pianist
Spouses	Stella Devaney, Henrietta Pauk Rodemich (1915-1934, his death)
Signature

Eugene Frederick Rodemich (April 13, 1890 in

RKO Radio Pictures

.

Early life

Rodemich was born in St. Louis, son of a dentist, Dr. Henry Rodemich, and wife Barbara (nee Mahiger) Rodemich. Henry and Barbara also had a daughter, Estelle. After Barbara's death in 1897, Henry married Rosele Fairchild with whom he had two children, Emmet and L'rene. Gene Rodemich began his musical career in and near his home town as a pianist, later becoming conductor of a dance orchestra. An entrepreneur, he formed the Rodemich Orchestra Exchange, through which he put together small bands of St. Louis-area musicians to play for wedding receptions and other social functions. Wanting to try his chances as an accompanist and bandleader in Chicago and then New York City, Rodemich sold his orchestra exchange to Gus Haenschen, a popular bandleader in St. Louis.^[1] In 1919, when Haenschen was named founding Director of Popular Releases for the new Brunswick Record Company in New York City, Rodemich became one of the first bandleaders to whom Haenschen offered an exclusive Brunswick recording contract.

Before joining Brunswick, Rodemich was the primary accompanist for Elsie Janis on several tours, including one in Europe. Before starting in radio in New York, 1929, he had for three years been director and master of ceremonies at the Metropolitan Theatre, Boston.^[2]

Later career

Rodemich was musical director of

Bring 'Em Back Alive (1932).^[3] He also conducted during numerous NBC programs and recorded for Brunswick Records.^[4]

Singles

Year	Single	US
1920	"Margie"	7
1923	"Wolverine Blues"	7

Death

Rodemich became ill while making a recording with his orchestra, which had been accompanying an

NBC radio program on Sunday nights. He insisted on continuing the recording although he had been stricken with a severe chill. He was taken to the Medical Arts Sanitarium, 57 West Fifty-Seventh Street, and died three days later of lobar pneumonia. He is buried in Kensico Cemetery,^[5] Valhalla, New York. A widow, a son, and a daughter survived him.^[6]

He was succeeded at the Van Beuren studio by his assistant, Winston Sharples.

References

^ St. Louis Post Dispatch, August 12, 1913
^ Dennis Owsley. City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895-1973. Reedy Press 2006, p. 25
^ Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck. Texas Tech Univ Press 2006.
^ Ross Laird, Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Brunswick Radio Corporation. Brunswick Records: A Discography of Recordings, 1916-1931. 2001 p. 117
^ Kensico Cemetery Records
^ Gene Rodemich, 42 [sic], musician, is dead. New York Times. March 1, 1934.

External links

Gene Rodemich recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.

[1] St. Louis Post Dispatch, August 12, 1913

[2] Dennis Owsley. City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895-1973. Reedy Press 2006, p. 25

[3] Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck. Texas Tech Univ Press 2006.

[4] Ross Laird, Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Brunswick Radio Corporation. Brunswick Records: A Discography of Recordings, 1916-1931. 2001 p. 117

[5] Kensico Cemetery Records

[6] Gene Rodemich, 42 [sic], musician, is dead. New York Times. March 1, 1934.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	Spain France BnF data Germany Israel United States Poland