Ellsworth “Babe” Wagner
(1914 – 1949)
Inducted in 1992.
Babe Wagner was a descendent of accomplished musicians. Babe himself became accomplished by the age of 10, eventually learning to play piano, violin, saxophone, drums and trombone. Among all the instruments he played, trombone became his instrument of choice. By age 15, Wagner played with The Whoopee John Orchestra. He traveled with several other prominent dance bands and performed with them at recording sessions in Chicago. In 1939, Babe joined Gene Krupa and His Orchestra. He toured the country with the Krupa band, playing famous places and taking part in Hollywood movies such as Ball of Fire starring Gary Cooper & Barbara Stanwyck. Wagner began his own band Babe Wagner’s Dutchmen in 1946, eventually signing a contract with major label Columbia Records. Two of the members were his brothers Virgil (a/k/a “Swede”) and Edward. Babe died at the young age of 35.
