Jan Garber

American jazz bandleader, composer and violinist. Born November 5, 1894 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Died October 5, 1977 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Garber planned on a career as a concert violinist and studied under Henry Schrderick, and later became a soloist with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. During World War I, while stationed in Alabama, he led a 50-piece brass band sponsored by the U.S. Government for the A.E.F. After deciding against a concert career and after being discharged, Garber turned to music in the popular trend. In 1921 he formed "The Garber-Davis Orchestra" (with pianist Milton Davis). before Davis moved on in 1924 and Garber had his own 11-piece orchestra.
His orchestra played the style he wanted but at first the style wasn't popular, what then was considered "sweet" dance music. In 1927 their style finally caught on; and his orchestra began entering the U.S. charts in 1928, first with "Sonny Boy" (which hit #14) and "Was It a Dream?", which hit #10. His band had another fifty-eight charted songs over the next twenty-three years, including #1's "All I Do Is Dream of You" (1934), "A Beautiful Lady in Blue" (1936), and "A Melody from the Sky" (1936) and twenty-two other top ten singles.
Married to Dorothy Jan. Father of Janis Garber (aka Kitty Thomas) (aka Kitty Martin), who sang in his band and later led it when he died.