Artie Shaw Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles
ARTIE SHAW
Born: May 23, 1910 in New York City, New York
Died: December 30, 2004 in Thousand Oaks, California
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky, better known as Artie Shaw, was an American clarinetist, composer, and bandleader, who played a significant role in the Swing Era of jazz. Born on May 23, 1910, in New York City, Shaw was one of the most popular and innovative musicians of his time, acclaimed for his technical virtuosity and groundbreaking approach to big band orchestration.
Shaw began his musical career in the late 1920s, playing saxophone in various bands before picking up the clarinet. His breakthrough came in 1938 with his rendition of "Begin the Beguine", which catapulted him to national fame. His other notable works include "Stardust", "Frenesi", and "Concerto for Clarinet", each exemplifying his unique fusion of jazz and classical music influences. In the 1940s, Shaw formed several bands, including the Artie Shaw Orchestra and the Gramercy Five, and he was the first white bandleader to hire a full-time African American singer, Billie Holiday. Known for his tumultuous personal life, Shaw was married eight times, including to actresses Lana Turner and Ava Gardner. He was also a noted author, penning both fiction and non-fiction, and his 1952 autobiography "The Trouble with Cinderella: An Outline of Identity" was well-received.
Shaw began his musical career in the late 1920s, playing saxophone in various bands before picking up the clarinet. His breakthrough came in 1938 with his rendition of "Begin the Beguine", which catapulted him to national fame. His other notable works include "Stardust", "Frenesi", and "Concerto for Clarinet", each exemplifying his unique fusion of jazz and classical music influences. In the 1940s, Shaw formed several bands, including the Artie Shaw Orchestra and the Gramercy Five, and he was the first white bandleader to hire a full-time African American singer, Billie Holiday. Known for his tumultuous personal life, Shaw was married eight times, including to actresses Lana Turner and Ava Gardner. He was also a noted author, penning both fiction and non-fiction, and his 1952 autobiography "The Trouble with Cinderella: An Outline of Identity" was well-received.
1998-Such-a-Long-Journey (Sound), 1959-Night-Train (Music Department), 2004-Broadway:-The-American-Musical (Other), 2013-42 (Sound), 2006-Wristcutters:-A-Love-Story (Sound), 1989-The-Lunch-Date (Sound), 2009-Soul-Kitchen (Sound), 1991-The-Rocketeer (Sound), 2013-Robert-Williams-Mr.-Bitchin' (in person), 2001-Walk-on-By:-The-Story-of-Popular-Song (in person), 1998-The-Impostors (Sound), 1997-Lolita (Sound), 1975-Police-Woman (Performer), 1940-Second-Chorus (Performer), 2004-American-Masters (in person), 2003-Artie-Shaw:-Quest-for-Perfection (in person), 1977-All-You-Need-Is-Love (in person), 2005-Sinatra:-Dark-Star (in person), 1970-The-Mike-Douglas-Show (in person), 1969-1970-The-David-Frost-Show (in person), 1939-Dancing-Co-Ed (in person), 1939-Artie-Shaw-and-His-Orchestra (in person), 1997-Biography (Other), 2008-Tres-caminos (Sound), 2005-The-Notorious-Bettie-Page (Sound), 1999/I-Treasure-Island (Sound), 1939-From-the-Ends-of-the-Earth (Other), 2006-Flags-of-Our-Fathers (Sound), 2009-Hollywood-Singing-and-Dancing:-A-Musical-History---The-1930s: (Sound), 1997-I-Love-You,-Don't-Touch-Me! (Sound), 1991-My-Girl (Sound), 2004-The-Aviator (Sound), 2002-Livshunger (Sound), 1998-The-Life-and-Times-of-Hank-Greenberg (Sound), 1987-Radio-Days (Sound), 1980-Raging-Bull (Sound), 1981-Bix:-'Ain't-None-of-Them-Play-Like-Him-Yet' (in person), 2011-American-Horror-Story (Sound), 2005-Great-Performances (Other), 1976-The-Man-Who-Fell-to-Earth (Sound), 1975-Aloha-Bobby-and-Rose (Sound), 2006-Ask-the-Dust (Sound), 1978-Hollywood-Greats (in person), 1950-1952-What's-My-Line (in person), 1939-Symphony-of-Swing (in person), 1939-Artie-Shaw's-Class-in-Swing (in person), 1978-Crash (Performer), 1973-McCloud (Performer), 1953-The-Jackie-Gleason-Show (Performer), 1985-Artie-Shaw:-Time-Is-All-You've-Got (in person), 1962-1973-The-Tonight-Show-Starring-Johnny-Carson (in person), 1932-The-Yacht-Party (in person), 2004-2006-The-Sopranos (Sound), 1989-The-Flame-of-Functionalism (Sound), 2009-Grey-Gardens (Sound), 2007-Midnight-Son (Sound), 1999-Gloomy-Sunday (Sound), 1994-The-Joust (Sound), 1959-The-Five-Pennies (Sound), 2003-b_egin-the-Beguine (in person), 1956-Jazz-Ball (Other), 1941-The-Big-Store (Sound)
Style
-
ARTIE SHAW - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/22/1980 - HFSID 308267The band leader responds to the gift of a Christmas cake from fellow band leader Bob Wilson with a warm letter, concluding with a bilingual pun he had once used as a name for his band!
Sale Price $531.25
$625.00
-
ARTIE SHAW - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 176648Signed autograph sentiment on a small card Autograph Sentiment signed: "Sincerely -/Artie Shaw", 4½x3½ card. Bandleader Artie Shaw (1910-2004), born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky, was also an accomplished jazz clarinetist, composer and writer.
Sale Price $234.00
$260.00
-
ARTIE SHAW - CHRISTMAS / HOLIDAY CARD SIGNED - HFSID 308266Christmas Card signed with Shaw's wry comment on the "Joy to the World" message Christmas Card signed: "Artie, 4½x6 unfolded, 4½x3 folded. No place, no date.…"
Sale Price $396.00
$440.00
-
ARTIE SHAW - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED - HFSID 34099Commemorative Envelope signed: "Artie Shaw", 6½x3¾. 3-cent "50th Anniversary of Motion Pictures" stamp affixed, postmarked New York, N.Y., February 19, 1945. Addressed by typewriter to a collector in Chicago.
Sale Price $162.00
$180.00
-
ARTIE SHAW - ENVELOPE SIGNED 06/07/1974 - HFSID 48531Envelope signed: "Artie Shaw/6-07-74", 6½x3¾. Cacheted envelope for the Pacific Coast Indians stamp in the Indians of Canada series, no stamp affixed, not postmarked.
Sale Price $162.00
$180.00
-
ARTIE SHAW - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/14/1978 - HFSID 308265Preparing to move to a new California address, he invites friends to visit and to stay with him. Typed Letter signed: "Artie", 1 page, 8½x11. 2127 W. Palos Court, Newbury Park, California, 1978 August 14. (Shaw has hand printed his new address and telephone number.
Sale Price $432.00
$480.00
-
ARTIE SHAW - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 09/13/1974 - HFSID 308263Invitation to fellow band leader Bob Wilson and spouse to visit his new home in California Typed Letter: "Artie", 1 page, 7¼x10½. No place (return address of Westwood, California is his future address), 1974 September 13.
Sale Price $396.00
$440.00