Will Bradley

Trombonist, composer and bandleader who notably composed Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar, a boogie-woogie hit for The Andrews Sisters. He worked in various jazz bands from the late 1920's. Formed his own 16-piece orchestra in 1939 with the drummer Ray McKinley. Only seven months later (due significantly to the efforts of Willard Alexander of the William Morris Agency) the band performed at the Famous Door, one of New York's top spots on 52nd Street. Other engagements followed at New York's Paramount Theatre and then the Biltmore Hotel. The Bradley/McKinley Orchestra specialized in boogie-woogie numbers, usually arranged by Leonard Whitney. Other personnel included at various times, Nick Caiazza, Mahlon Clark, Peanuts Hucko, Pete Candoli, Shorty Rogers and Shelly Manne. The two co-leaders eventually clashed and the band split up in 1942, with McKinley forming his own orchestra and Bradley joining the army. In addition to his work with jazz and swing, Bradley also composed for symphony and chamber orchestras.