Bobby Hackett

Bobby Hackett was born under the name of Robert Leo Hackett on the 31st January, 1915 in Providence , Rhode Island. Bobby, who was later to become the most important white representative of Dixieland jazz, learned banjo, guitar and violin as a child. He left school at 14 and played from then on with local dance orchestras.

He eventually learned the trumpet and performed at the beginning of his career with Pee Wee Russel and Teddy Roy in Boston. He turned professional on trumpet a short time later - whereby he played guitar parallel thoughout his entire career - and took over the band of Herbie Marsh.