Harry Raderman

Harry Raderman (28 September 1882—9 November 1940) was a Russian-born trombonist and dance band leader in the United States. He worked in Ted Lewis's band and also made several recordings under his own name in the 1920s.

He is known for his gimmick of the "laughing trombone", which became his trademark. He was also involved in the Klezmer music scene in New York.

Harry was the older brother of violinist Lou Raderman, a sought-after concertmaster and violinist in the 1920s/30s.

Harry Raderman was born on September 28, 1882, in Odesa, Russia (known today as Ukraine) to Elias Raderman and Esther Pepper (Pfeffer).

In 1893, the Raderman family emigrated to the United States, settling in the Bronx, New York. At the time, New York City was home to many Eastern European immigrants who contributed greatly to shaping the American popular music scene in the early 1900s. 1902 saw the birth of his younger brother Lou Raderman. Lou was also a talented musician who served as the leading violinist and concertmaster of the Victor Studio Orchestra in the 1920s/30s.

Raderman got his start in music at a young age. By 1905, he had begun playing trombone with various Klezmer bands in New York. Klezmer is a traditional Jewish folk music genre that originated in Central and Eastern Europe. During that time, Raderman lived with his musician uncle in New York City.

Raderman also played the trombone in the orchestra of the "Bushwick Theatre", a vaudeville venue in the Bronx. In the second half of the 1910s, he was part of a band led by Ted Lewis, with cornetist Walter Kahn and drummer John Lucas. They used to play on the boardwalk at Coney Island in New York. The band caught the attention of bandleader and promoter Earl Fuller, who was the musical director for Rector's Restaurant on Broadway in Manhattan's theater district. Fuller hired Lewis' band into Rector's Restaurant. The contract was signed in April 1917 and the house band at the restaurant became "Earl Fuller's Famous Jazz Band". On June 4, 1917, "Earl Fuller's Famous Jazz Band", with Ted Lewis and Harry Raderman, made their first sides for Victor Records.

Early on in his career, Raderman developed his trademark trombone laugh while performing a number called "Smiles."

He continued to work and record with Ted Lewis through the early 1930s. On October 1, 1919, they recorded Lee David's "Wond'ring" with pianist Ernie Cutting. The following year in March, they recorded "I'll See You In C-U-B-A" (written by Irving Berlin) and "The Moon Shines On The Moonshine" (written by Robert Hood Bowers) for Ted's ensemble. In 1921, he played trombone (uncredited) on "Where Is My Daddy Now Blues" and "Queen Of Sheba" featuring cornetist Dave Klein. In 1926, he and George Brunies played trombone on "No" / "I've Found A New Baby" featuring Harry Barth (brass bass); Dave Klein (cornet); Tony Gerhardi (guitar); Dick Reynolds (piano); and Sol Klein (violin). Another highlight of Raderman's musical career is a November 1926 recording session in Chicago when their band backed singer Sophie Tucker for "Some Of These Days" (written by Shelton Brooks in 1910).

While working with Lewis, Raderman also recorded with many other musicians and under various names such as Harry Raderman's Jazz Orchestra, Harry Raderman's Orchestra, Raderman's Dance Orchestra, Raderman's Radio Orchestra, OKeh Syncopators, Raderman's Novelty Orchestra, Raderman's Roysterers, and the Plantation Dance Orchestra.

In February 1920, he directed his band for the recording of "Slide, Kelly, Slide" (composed by George F. Briegel) with Pincus Glantz (bassoon, double bass), Bennie Krueger (clarinet, alto saxophone), John Lucas (drums), Harry Scharf (piano), Walter Kahn (trumpet), Lou Raderman (violin). In 1921, Harryman, John Lucas, and Lou Raderman, as Regal Jazz Syncopators, recorded Con Conrad's composition of "Moonlight". On November 6, 1924, Harry Raderman's Dance Orchestra recorded "All Alone" (written by Irving Berlin) and "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (written by Beth Slater Whitson and Leo Friedman) on Edison Records.

Raderman was also involved in the traditional music of the Russian emigrants. In April 1924, he and klezmer clarinetist + bandleader Sam Beckerman teamed up as "Raderman's and Beckerman's Orchestra" to record "A Europaische Kolomyka", featuring Alex Fiedel (Emerson Records).

In 1925, Raderman's band, the Red Hotters, featuring Jules Berkman on trumpet and Larry Abbott on clarinet and saxophone, recorded "Oh Say! Can I See You Tonight?", originally written by Henry Creamer, Joseph Schuster, and Leon Flatow. The song was recorded in New York City on August 21, 1925.

In 1927, British bandleader Bert Ambrose recruited Raderman for his new band in London. Another musician in the band was British jazz trumpeter Henry Levine. In June 1927, they made a recording in London, with Raderman on drums, not trombone. Raderman came back to New York in October 1927.

Raderman continued to work and record with Ted Lewis' orchestra—his last known credit is an early 1931 recording. His work slowed down in the following years. It is believed he continued to do freelance work, playing small gigs for dance classes and public gatherings in New York area.

Video: The Red Hotters - Oh Say! Can I See You Tonight? - 1925

Raderman was married to his wife Rose Raderman.

Raderman died in New York on November 9, 1940, at age 58. He was buried on November 11th at Mount Zion Cemetery in New York