Perry Botkin

Perry Botkin pictured in a 1946 Gibson advertisement holding his 1930s 16-inch Gibson L-5

Born in Springfield, Ohio in 1907, Perry Botkin was a guitar, ukulele and banjo player who performed and/or recorded with, amongst others, Hoagy Carmichael, Al Jolson, Paul Whiteman, Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra. In addition, he worked as musical director for Bing Crosby appearing with Bing in the 1941 film ‘Birth of the Blues’.

This early/mid 1930s Gibson L-5, which was apparently used by Perry Botkin is from the collection of Jackie and Gene Autry.

In the 1950s Perry wrote the score for ‘Murder by Contract’ and in the following decade composed several songs for ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ TV show.

Perry Botkin with a 1930s 16 -inch Gibson L-5, Martin ukulele and fancy banjo. A George Van Eps String Damper i- or something similar – is attached to the guitar’s headstock 

 He died in California in 1973.