January 18, 1974 – September 16, 1974

Michael Andrew “Peanuts” Hucko was born in 1918 in Syracuse, NY and moved to New York City in 1939. From 1939 to 1940, he played tenor saxophone with Will Bradley and Joe Marsala. After a brief time with Charlie Spivak, he joined the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band in which he served in Europe during World War II. During this time, Peanuts (the nickname comes from a childhood love of them) began to concentrate on the clarinet “because we did a lot of marching in sand, which was awkward with the tenor.” With Miller’s Uptown Hall Gang, he was featured in a hard-driving version of Stealin’ Apples.

During the post-war period, Peanuts played in the bands of Benny Goodman, Ray McKinley, Eddie Condon, and Jack Teagarden. From 1950 to 1955, he was busy in New York as a studio musician for CBS and ABC. This was followed by more work with Goodman and Teagarden, after which he joined the Louis Armstrong All-Stars from 1958-60. He also led his own group at Eddie Condon’s Club from 1964-66.

From 1966, he was featured regularly at Dick Gibson’s Colorado jazz parties , later the World’s Greatest Jazzband. In the 1970’s he led the Glenn Miller Orchestra and toured with them across the US and abroad.

Peanuts Hucko is perhaps best known to the public for his appearances with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra on national TV during the early 70’s. These TV shows are being re-run on Public TV to this day.

In 1974, he opened his own nightclub in Denver, Peanuts Hucko’s Navarre, featuring his singer wife Louise Tobin (formerly Mrs. Harry James) and Ralph Sutton. The 1980’s brought renewed success with a busy concert and touring schedule as a soloist and with his award-winning Pied Piper quintet.