Earl Burtnett

American jazz pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader.

Born : February 07, 1896 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Died : January 02, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois.

The writer of successful songs such as "Canadian Capers" (1915) and "Down Honolulu Way" (1916), Burtnett joined Art Hickman's Orchestra in 1918 and became its head writer and arranger, composing hits such as "Do You Ever Think Of Me?" (1920), "Leave Me With A Smile" (1921), "Sleep" (1923, with Adam Geibel), "Mandalay" (1924), and "If I Should Lose You" (1927). When Hickman retired in 1926, Burtnett took over the band and led it until his premature death at age 39 of complications from an appendicitis.

Both under Hickman and Burnett, the band served as the house band of the famous Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California. From 1926, it recorded under the name "Earl Burtnett and his Los Angeles Hotel Biltmore Orchestra". In 1927, the band added a vocal trio, consisting of Eddie Bush, Bill Seckler, and Paul Gibbons. Earl Burtnett's Biltmore Trio became incredibly popular and let to other bands adding vocal trios as well.

From 1926-1928, Burtnett's band recorded for Columbia, then for Columbia. It also appeared in several films, including The Flying Fool (1929) and The Party Girl (1930), and a number of shorts.