Herb Wiedoeft
Herb Wiedoeft and the Cinderella Roof Orchestra (Click for larger image.)
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Born

  • November 22, 1886

Died

  • May 12, 1928
  • near Klamath Falls, OR

Theme Song

  • Cinderella Blues

Herb Wiedoeft

Trumpeter Herb Wiedoeft led one of the more popular West Coast jazz bands of the 1920s. Based at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles for much of its existence the group was also known as the Cinderella Roof Orchestra, after the hotel's Cinderella Roof Ballroom. The band recorded four songs for the Nordskog label in 1922. From 1924 onwards they recorded for Brunswick. Vocals were provided by future bandleader Clyde Lucas, as well as Dub Kirkpatric and the Wiedoeft Trio. The group occasionally toured the East Coast.

According to some sources the orchestra had been originally founded by Wiedoeft's brother, saxophone pioneer Rudy, and known as Rudy Wiedoeft's Californians. Rudy's meteoric rise as a saxophone soloist, however, had made it impossible for him to manage the band, so he handed it over to Herb. This story contradicts other biographies of Rudy and is unverifiable. Two other Wiedoeft brothers were involved in the orchestra, however: Gerhardt, known as "Gay," who played bass, and Adolph, who provided drums.

Herb Wiedoeft was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1928 while traveling in Oregon. Trombonist Jesse Stafford took over the orchestra and moved its base to San Francisco. Renamed after Stafford, the band continued to record for Brunswick until 1931 and remained in existence until 1937, when Stafford passed away from a heart attack. Vocalists were Clyde Lucas, Leon Lucas, Lawrence Grey, and the Wiedoeft Trio.