Biography
18 March 1893, USA, d. 18 March 1971, Paramus, New Jersey, USA. Olsen started his first dance band in Portland, Oregon, USA, in 1917. A six-piece group, this early combo included Wilbur Johnson, who at that time travelled under the billing ‘the world’s only mellophone soloist’, violinist Herman Kanin, later president of the American Federation of Musicians, and Olsen himself as drummer. Afterwards Olsen relocated to California to play theatre and ballroom dates. At that time he was contacted by Florenz Ziegfeld, who invited him to travel to New York to play in the musical comedy Kid Boots. Other Broadway shows followed, including Whoopee!, The Girl Friend, and Good News. He also played the New York nightclubs in the evenings, at venues including Jack White’s 54th Street Club, the Rendezvous and the Club Richman. A national hit followed in 1925 with ‘Who’, recorded for Victor Records, which brought coast to coast...
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