Artie Shaw was one of the most influential and popular jazz musicians of the 20th century. He was a master clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and actor who had a string of hit records and a turbulent personal life. He was also a restless and perfectionist artist who retired from music in 1954 and pursued other interests such as writing and farming. But what was the cause of his death and how did he spend his final years?
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Artie Shaw’s Musical Career and Retirement
Artie Shaw was born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky on May 23, 1910, in New York City to Jewish immigrants from Russia and Austria. He started playing the saxophone at 13 and switched to the clarinet at 16. He became a professional musician in 1925 and played with various bands and orchestras until he formed his own big band in 1937. His breakthrough came in 1938 when he recorded Cole Porter’s “Begin the Beguine”, which became a huge hit and made him an international star. He also recorded other classics such as “Stardust”, “Nightmare”, “Frenesi”, and “Dancing in the Dark”. He led several versions of his big band and his small jazz group, the Gramercy Five, until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and led a band that toured the South Pacific during World War II.
After the war, Shaw returned to lead a band until 1945, but he became disillusioned with the music industry and the public’s demand for his old hits. He also suffered from a nervous breakdown and developed a lip infection that made playing the clarinet painful. He decided to quit music for good in 1954 and sold his instruments and music library. He moved to Spain for a while and then settled in a farm in Connecticut. He devoted himself to writing, producing, and studying various subjects such as psychology, philosophy, history, and mathematics.
Artie Shaw’s Personal Life and Marriages
Artie Shaw was also known for his romantic escapades and his eight marriages to different women, some of them famous actresses. His first wife was Jane Cairns, whom he married in 1932 and divorced in 1936. His second wife was Margaret Allen, whom he married in 1937 and divorced in 1939. His third wife was Lana Turner, whom he married in 1940 and divorced in 1941 after a stormy relationship. His fourth wife was Betty Kern, the daughter of composer Jerome Kern, whom he married in 1942 and divorced in 1943. His fifth wife was Ava Gardner, whom he married in 1945 and divorced in 1946 after another tumultuous affair. His sixth wife was Kathleen Winsor, the author of the best-selling novel “Forever Amber”, whom he married in 1946 and divorced in 1952. His seventh wife was Doris Dowling, an actress, whom he married in 1952 and divorced in 1956. His eighth and final wife was Evelyn Keyes, an actress best known for playing Scarlett O’Hara’s sister in “Gone with the Wind”, whom he married in 1957 and divorced in 1985.
Shaw had three children from his marriages: Steven Kern Shaw (born 1941) from Betty Kern, Jonathan Shaw (born 1950) from Doris Dowling, and Melody Gardot (born 1985) from Evelyn Keyes. He also had several affairs with other women, such as Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Lana Turner’s daughter Cheryl Crane (who later killed Turner’s lover Johnny Stompanato), and Lauren Bacall.
Artie Shaw’s Death and Legacy
Artie Shaw died on December 30, 2004, at his home in Newbury Park, California. He was 94 years old. He had long suffered from adult onset diabetes and likely died of complications of the disease, according to his personal assistant Larry Rose. His lawyer and longtime friend Eddie Ezor said he had been in declining health for some time. He apparently died of natural causes. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.
Artie Shaw left behind a remarkable legacy as one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. He was widely regarded as “one of jazz’s finest clarinetists who influenced many other artists such as Monty Norman (the composer of the “James Bond Theme”), Woody Herman (his rival clarinetist), Buddy DeFranco (his successor as leader of the Gramercy Five), Benny Goodman (his friend and competitor), John Coltrane (who admired his technique), and Pete Fountain (who called him “the best of all time”). He was also a pioneer of what later became known as Third Stream music, which blended elements of classical and jazz forms and traditions. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame, and the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
Artie Shaw was a complex and controversial figure who defied conventions and expectations. He was a musical genius who constantly sought new challenges and innovations. He was a restless and perfectionist artist who never settled for less than his best. He was a rebel and a maverick who criticized the music business and the public’s taste. He was a man of many talents and interests who explored various fields of knowledge and expression. He was a lover and a husband who had many relationships and marriages. He was a legend and a mystery who fascinated and frustrated his fans and critics. He was Artie Shaw, the jazz legend, who died of diabetes complications.
