A jazz trumpeter who performed as a soloist in bands fronted by Rudy Vallee, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman; backed up Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday; and fronted his own band — all before his death at age 33 from alcohol-fueled cirrhosis — Roland Bernard “Bunny” Berigan was born in Wisconsin on this day in 1908. Here’s some grainy footage of him playing and singing “Until Today” in 1936. Take a listen to his band’s theme song “I Can’t Get Started” (1937), which earned a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
