(June 22nd 1903 - June 7th 1971)

Born in Chicago in 1903, Ben Pollack was a percussionist and bandleader active during the 1920's. Becoming a drummer while still attending school Pollack began to form small side groups and was playing professionally by his late teens. It was then that he joined "Harry Bastin's Band" followed by a stint as a member of the "New Orleans Rhythm Kings". In 1926 Ben Pollack formed his own band that would grow to include Gil Rodin, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Jack Teagarden, and Jimmy McPartland.