Jazz vibraphonist Red Norvo – born Kenneth Norville on March 31, 1908, in
Beardstown, Illinois – was nicknamed ‘Mr. Swing’ and was one of the pioneers in
jazz, establishing the vibraphone, marimba, and xylophone as jazz instruments
and changing the course of jazz history. His musical career began in Chicago,
Illinois when he became a member of The Collegians in 1925. He then moved on to
other bands before playing with some of the era’s jazz greats including Benny
Goodman, Woody Herman, Charlie Barnet, and others. Red Norvo went on to play
with Billie Holiday, Dina Shore, Frank Si...