George Olsen

George Olsen was a popular American bandleader and drummer during the 1920s and 1930s, best known for his work during the Jazz Age and the early big band era. He rose to fame leading George Olsen and His Music, a stylish and polished dance orchestra that made numerous hit recordings during the Roaring Twenties. Known for crisp arrangements and smooth vocals—many of which featured his wife, singer Ethel Shutta—Olsen's band became a mainstay on records, radio, and Broadway stages.

Olsen got his start as a drummer in college and quickly rose through the entertainment world, with his orchestra becoming a house band for the Ziegfeld Follies and other musical productions. His recordings, such as “Good News,” “Doin’ the Raccoon,” and “You’ll Never Get to Heaven with Those Eyes,” captured the upbeat, carefree spirit of the era and helped define the sound of 1920s American popular music. Though his popularity waned with the rise of swing in the late 1930s, Olsen remains a key figure in early American dance band history.

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