Wilbur Schwartz (17 March 1918 Newark, New Jersey – 3 August 1990 Los Angeles) was an American clarinetist, alto saxophonist, and dance band arranger who was widely known as a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He is a Native American, and his "German-sounding name" was described as a simple coincidence by himself. Career Schwartz joined Miller in 1937, remaining with his orchestra until 1942. He was featured on all the ballad numbers. With the addition of Schwartz’s characteristic tone in the Miller reed section, the sound of the Miller band became one that none of the imitators could ever reproduce. Prior to joining Miller, Schwartz had played with the New York City-based Julie Wintz’s band. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Schwartz performed as a session musician on several Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra albums, and as a clarinetist in the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He also performed on the 1963 Verve album, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook. Family Schwartz was the father of Grammy-winning composer-arranger Nan Schwartz. Wilbur Schwartz in the movies Wilbur Schwartz appeared in four movies between 1936 and 1962: Love and Sacrifice (1937) Sun Valley Serenade (1941) Orchestra Wives (1942) A Symposium On Popular Music (1962). Dubbed Clarinet playing for his namesake character in “The Glenn Miller Story” (1954) References 1918 births 1990 deaths musicians from Newark, New Jersey American clarinetists 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American male musicians Glenn Miller Orchestra members Earle Spencer Orchestra members