George Godfrey Wettling 1907

"High as a Kite" (oil on canvas) G. Wettling 1952

Batterista statunitense (Topeka, Kansas, 28.11.1907 – New York, 6.6.1968). Trascorre la giovinezza a Chicago, impara a suonare la batteria con Earl Wiley e subisce l’influenza di Baby Dodds. Negli anni ’20 suona nelle orchestre di Jack Chapman, nei Seattle Harmony King e con vari musicisti di stile Chicago.

Negli anni ’30 fa parte della formazione riunita dal britannico Jack Hylton all’epoca del suosoggirno negli Stati Uniti. Viene in seguito scritturato da Artie Shaw, Red Norvo, Paul Whiteman, Muggsy Spanier e Ben Pollak. Negli anni ’50, accompagna numerose formazioni dixieland.

Batterista valido e sottile, capace di fornire un accompagnamento allo stesso tempo vario e robusro, notevole soprattutto nell’utilizzo dei piatti., Wettling può passare senza problema da una piccola formazione dixieland a una big band. È stato anche un pittore ben quotato, che ha esposto a New York.
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[I. D.]

American drummer (Topeka, Kansas, 28.11.1907 - New York, 6.6.1968). He spent his youth in Chicago, learned to play drums with Earl Wiley, and was influenced by Baby Dodds. In the 1920s, he played in Jack Chapman's orchestras, in Seattle Harmony King, and various Chicago-style musicians.

In the 1930s, he was part of the formation brought together by the British Jack Hylton during his stay in the United States. He was later cast by Artie Shaw, Red Norvo, Paul Whiteman, Muggsy Spanier, and Ben Pollak. In the 1950s, it accompanied numerous Dixieland formations.

He was an excellent and subtle drummer, capable of providing a varied and robust accompaniment, notably, notable especially in the use of cymbals. Wettling can smoothly go from a small Dixieland formation to a big band. He was also a well-regarded painter who exhibited in New York.
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[I. D.]