Musician, Big-Band Leader. In the realm of popular dance music in the 1920’s, Berks County’s Paul Specht was one of the U.S.’s big three; the two others were Vincent Lopez and Paul Whiteman. So famous was Specht that he was chosen over Whiteman to play for Hoover’s 1929 inaugural ball. Additionally, his was the first orchestra to broadcast for RCA, the first to make a sound motion picture (DeForrest’s Phonofilms), and the first to broadcast over a nationwide radio network of 109 stations. Paul Specht was born in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, a son of church organist Charles G. Specht. While Charles taught Paul to play the cornet so that he could be in the Sinking Spring Cornet Band, it was Harold Bechtel who taught the boy violin. He attended Combs Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia, to learn the classics. In Reading, he played with pianist Chester Wittel and cellist Paul Sechristat the Berkshire Hotel, the Arcadia Theatre (734 Penn), and at Loew’s Colonial. He soon went to New York City where he organized an orchestra that became extremely popular, both here and in England, largely through sales of his Columbia recordings. In the 1940s, he developed an increasingly debilitating arthritic condition that gradually forced him into early retirement. He died April 11, 1954. His remains were returned to Berks for burial at St. John’s Church cemetery in Sinking Spring. Paul's tombstone contains the musical notation for his theme song.
Musician, Big-Band Leader. In the realm of popular dance music in the 1920’s, Berks County’s Paul Specht was one of the U.S.’s big three; the two others were Vincent Lopez and Paul Whiteman. So famous was Specht that he was chosen over Whiteman to play for Hoover’s 1929 inaugural ball. Additionally, his was the first orchestra to broadcast for RCA, the first to make a sound motion picture (DeForrest’s Phonofilms), and the first to broadcast over a nationwide radio network of 109 stations. Paul Specht was born in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, a son of church organist Charles G. Specht. While Charles taught Paul to play the cornet so that he could be in the Sinking Spring Cornet Band, it was Harold Bechtel who taught the boy violin. He attended Combs Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia, to learn the classics. In Reading, he played with pianist Chester Wittel and cellist Paul Sechristat the Berkshire Hotel, the Arcadia Theatre (734 Penn), and at Loew’s Colonial. He soon went to New York City where he organized an orchestra that became extremely popular, both here and in England, largely through sales of his Columbia recordings. In the 1940s, he developed an increasingly debilitating arthritic condition that gradually forced him into early retirement. He died April 11, 1954. His remains were returned to Berks for burial at St. John’s Church cemetery in Sinking Spring. Paul's tombstone contains the musical notation for his theme song.
Bio by: gmmix
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