Artie Shaw

Shaw in the film “Second Chorus,” 1940, sourced fom http://www.archive.org

Birth Name: Arthur Jacob Arshawsky

Date of Birth: May 23, 1910

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: December 30, 2004

Place of Death: Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Artie Shaw was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor, and author, of both fiction and non-fiction. He led one of the U.S.’s most popular big bands from the late 1930s to the early 1940s.

He was the son of Sarah (Strauss) and Harry/Harold Warszawsky/Arshawsky, who was a dressmaker and photographer. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant, from Odessa. His mother was an Austrian Jewish immigrant.

Artie had a son with his former wife Betty Kern; and a son, tattoo artist and writer Jonathan Shaw, with his former wife, actress Doris Dowling. Betty was the daughter of composer Jerome Kern.

Artie’s paternal grandfather was Abraham Warshawski/Arshawsky (the son of Rabbi Isaac Warszawsky/Warshawski and Freidel Vilner). Rabbi Isaac was born in Virbalis, Vilkaviškis, Marijampolė County, Lithuania, the son of Hersh Warszawsky. Freidel was born in Seirijai, Lazdijai, Alytus County, Lithuania, the daughter of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Vilner and Liba Avraham Bat Avraham of Serhei.

Artie’s paternal grandmother was named Fagia/Fieze Portugalov/Ginkcwrsch (teh daughter of Osip/Joseph).

Artie’s maternal grandfather was named Leib Strauss/Fajga Marjenstrauss.

Artie’s maternal grandmother was named Haye Koslar.

Sources: Genealogy of Artie Shaw – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Artie’s parents – https://familysearch.org