Johnny Messner
- Born
- 1909 · Manhattan.
- Died
- 1986
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- bandleader · composer · conductor · jazz musician · saxophonist
- Fields
- jazz
- Education
- Ridgefield Park High School
In this article
Key facts
• Name — Johnny Messner • Background — non_vocal_instrumentalist • Birth Name — John C. Messner • Born — 1909 10 13 • Birthplace — Manhattan, New York, U.S. • Died — 1986 01 01 • Genre — Big band, traditional Pop Johnny Messner (13 October 1909, in New York City – January 1986, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey) was an American bandleader, composer, saxophonist, and vocalist during the big band/swing heyday.
Background
Messner grew up in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey and graduated from Ridgefield Park High School in 1928. Messner received a scholarship to study at the Juilliard School of Music. During World War II he was drafted into the US Army, where he served as bandleader for ensembles at military training facilities across the United States. After the war ended, he joined Vincent Lopez's orchestra as an assistant bandleader and saxophonist.
Family
Messner was the youngest of five male siblings. An older brother, Dick Messner, was also a musician and bandleader. All five brothers performed together in Johnny's orchestra: Dick (piano), Johnny (violin and clarinet), Charlie (né Charles Messner; 1905–2003) (woodwinds), Bill (né William Messner; 1904–1982) (drums), Fred (né Frederick Messner; born 1902) (violin). The Five Brothers made their radio broadcast debut in 1923 on NBC, then known as WJZ.
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Johnny Messner (musician), revision 1316024207 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1."Messner Into Army," Billboard, February 12, 1944, p. 15 (retrieved November 15, 2017)
- 2.Wall of Achievement Members, "Johnny Messner '28" Ridgefield Park Junior-Senior High School Alumni Foundation (retrieved November 15, 2017)
- 3."Johnny Messner Class of 1928", Ridgefield Park Junior-Senior High School Alumni Foundation] (retrieved November 15, 2017)
Citations
References
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reference work
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 27 August 2026.
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