Allan Reuss
Born in New York City in 1915, Allan Reuss studied guitar with George Van Eps before going on to play with bandleaders Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman, Jimmy Dorsey and Harry James. Reuss was also in demand as a session musician, initially working as a studio guitarist in New York and later in Los Angeles, where moved in the mid 1940s.
Image above from a 1937 issue of Mastertone Magazine
His compositions include Pickin’ For Patsy with the Jack Teagarden Band and Shufflin’ at the Hollywood with Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra.
This posed photo (left) is from Gibson Catalog AA of 1939 and shows Allan holding a blonde L-5P. The image on the right is courtesy of Jonathan Stout
You can see Allan’s guitar Serial Number 95122 here
Reuss and his Gibson from a 1939 issue of Downbeat Magazine
Listen to Allan Reuss playing ‘Pickin’ For Patsy’ with the Jack Teagarden Band click here
Images on this page courtesy of Paul Fox unless otherwise indicated