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Peabody, Eddie, 1902-1970We have 1 book for this author.
Early careerHe entered the U.S. Navy in March of 1916 at age fourteen after lying about his age. He began playing the violin, mandolin, guitar and banjo while serving in World War I on an S-14 submarine. It was during this period that he earned the nickname "Happiness Boy." After his discharge from the Navy in 1921 he went on to have a career in vaudeville, originally as a violinist, but eventually as a banjo player. He also produced records and appeared in films. He was, and still is, regarded as the most popular banjo player of his generation. Major AccomplishmentsHe developed, with the Vega Banjo Company of Boston, a new type of four-stringed banjo called the Vegavox, based on the zither banjo. The Vegavox has been produced mainly in four-stringed plectrum (22 frets) and tenor (19 frets) models; however, some five-stringed models were created and sold as special orders. Eddie also developed a special type of electric guitar, first with the Fender Company and then with Rickenbacker, called the Banjoline tuned as a plectrum banjo. The Banjoline is now a very rare and highly-priced collector's item, seldom used in live performance. [citation needed] At some point in the 1920s, a music critic nicknamed Peabody "The King of the Banjo" because of his frenetic playing style, which made some listeners think he was playing two banjos at once.[citation needed] The nickname stuck for the rest of his life. During his career Eddie played for kings, queens, potentates, dukes, duchesses and presidents. [citation needed] In 1968, President Eisenhower awarded him a distinguished "People to People" Award for Meritorious Service in both the military and show business.[citation needed] Personal lifeDuring the 1930s he married Maude Kelly, his business manager at the time, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1939. In 1940, he married Ragna Kaupanger, a Norweigian-American nurse and stewardess for United Airlines. Eddie and Ragna had two children, Eddie Jr., and George. They remained married until his death in 1970 at age 68. He continued to play live until his death in 1970 due to a brain haemorrhage he suffered while on stage in Covington, Kentucky. His wife, Ragna Peabody, died in 2002. BibliographyThe Eddie Peabody Story by Lowell H. Schreyer Other useful information by Eddie Peabody III, grandson of Eddie Peabody (nitgub@gmail.com), along with the surviving members of his family. External links
This biographical information was gathered from the Eddie_Peabody page, courtesy of the Wikipedia project. BooksPoet and Peasant Overture (Music, recorded) |
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