Will Bradley

Wilbur Schwichtenberg, born on July 12, 1912, was a popular American trombonist and bandleader who rose to fame in World War II, at the height of the swing era. After playing trombone in New York for various dance orchestras during the 1930s, in 1939 he changed his name to Will Bradley and co-founded his own big band with drummer and singer Ray McKinley. Their orchestra became renowned for popularising African-American boogie woogie rhythms and incorporating them into hits like "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" and  "Scrub Me Mama, with a Boogie Beat." Despite his personal preference for ballads, Bradley's collaborations with McKinley and pianist Freddie Slack helped his band briefly become known as one of the most distinctive hard-swinging outifts in the country. Following McKinley's departure in 1942, Bradley attempted to steer the band towards a more traditional swing style but the collective eventually disbanded due to Bradley's health issues. After the war, he continued to contribute to the music scene by joining the Tonight Show orchestra and composing some classical pieces before his death on July 15, 1989, three days after his 77th birthday.

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