Conrad Janis

• Born: February 11, 1928, New York, NY
• Active: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s
• Genres: Jazz
• Instrument: Trombone
• Representative Albums: "Conrad Janis & His Tailgate Jazz Band," "Dixieland Jam Session," "Conrad Janis' Tailgate Jazz Band"

Biography

An actor on television and films, Conrad Janis has always loved playing Dixieland trombone. His mother, Harriet Janis, worked closely with critic Rudi Blesh on the definitive book They All Played Ragtime and for the Circle label. Conrad Janis played guitar early on, but was self-taught on trombone, which he did not start playing until he was nearly 21. He gigged as a freelancer from the 1950s on in between acting jobs. He recorded on an infrequent basis on early sets for Circle, London, and Jubilee. Since the 1980s, Janis has been the leader of the popular Beverly Hills Unlimited Jazz Band. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Conrad Janis & His Tailgate Jazz Band Buy this CD

• Born: Feb 11, 1928 in New York City, New York
• Occupation: Actor, Director
• Active: '40s, '70s-'90s
• Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
• Career Highlights: The Brasher Doubloon, The Feminine Touch, Sonny Boy
• First Major Screen Credit: Snafu (1945)

Biography

A New York-based radio actor from childhood, Conrad Janis was 16 when he made his first Broadway appearance in Junior Miss. Janis went on to star in the 1945 film comedy Snafu then played supporting roles in such 20th Century-Fox productions as Margie (1946) and The Brasher Doubloon (1947, as a teenaged murderer). His subsequent Broadway credits include The Brass Ring (for which he won a Theatre World Award), Time Out for Ginger and Visit to a Small Planet. Premature baldness compelled him to switch from leading-man assignments to character roles. A veteran of some 350 TV appearances, Janis was seen on a regular weekly basis as Otto Palindrome on the 1978 sci-fi spoof Quark, and as Mindy McConnell's dad Fred on the Robin Williams sitcom Mork and Mindy. Dropped from M & M after the 1978-79 season when the producers decided to retool the program, Janis was rehired in 1980, this time at a much heftier salary. Though justifiably proud of his acting accomplishments, Janis reportedly is prouder still of his activities as a jazz musician, fronting such prestigious musical aggregations as The Tailgaters and the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band (this latter group served as the subject of a lively PBS documentary). In addition, Janis is the owner operator of a prominent avant-garde art gallery, and is in charge of his own production company, MiraCom. In 1994, Conrad Janis made his film directorial bow with The Feminine Touch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Cable Guy Buy this Movie	The Feminine Touch Buy this Movie	Mr. Saturday Night Buy this Movie	Sonny Boy Buy this Movie
Nothing in Common Buy this Movie	Brewster's Millions Buy this Movie	The Red Light Sting Buy this Movie	Oh, God! Book II Buy this Movie

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