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Thursday, February 06, 2003

By Adrian McCoy, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Several generations of Pittsburghers danced to his music in the heyday of the Big Band era, and many still remember Baron Elliott.

Baron Elliott, whose real name was Charles Craft, died Tuesday in Florida. He was 88. Mr. Craft, of Port Charlotte, Fla., had suffered a stroke and a heart attack in November.

Mr. Craft was born in Troy Hill and grew up in Reserve. When he was 5, his mother bought him a harmonica, sparking a lifelong love of music. A versatile young musician, he played violin, viola and bassoon in the Allegheny High School orchestra. But he wanted to be in the dance band and took up the saxophone.

After graduation, he started his own band and was hired by WJAS-AM. It was the 1930s -- the era when live music was a staple of radio programming.

He got the name Baron Elliott by chance. He asked fellow band members to drop suggested stage names for him into a hat and "Baron Elliott" came up the winner.

The Baron Elliott Orchestra went on to be staff orchestra on WCAE-AM (now WEAE) from 1940 to 1951. They were live on the air five nights a week with a half-hour show.

His was one of the so-called "territory bands," big bands that were popular on a regional level. But they also ventured to the big time venues in Chicago and Washington, D.C. A much-anticipated engagement to play in New York City was cut short by World War II and the draft.

Mr. Craft was part of the 35th Special Services Company in Europe, where he produced and performed in shows for the troops. Mr. Craft, a staff sergeant, was awarded a Bronze Star.

After the war, he returned to WCAE. "It was a very popular show with a good following," said Emil Brenkus, bass player with the band and a longtime friend. "As a result, we got a lot of bookings in the Tri-State area, especially proms and parties.

"He had some very talented people in his group," Brenkus added. Other alumni of the band include Billy May and Sam Nestico, who went on to fame as arrangers, and band leader Benny Benack.

The Baron Elliott Orchestra, which played at the William Penn Hotel, West View Park's Danceland and Kennywood, was also one of the first bands to make records for sale locally on several labels, including Decca and Musicraft. Their signature tune was "Stardust Memories."

An article in Jazz Journal summed up his lyrical playing style: "The dancers loved the Baron's styling, and that was his primary goal. In the 1930s, the quality of his lovely alto sax was unsurpassed."

Mr. Craft, who also worked in sales at several area car dealerships, retired in 1981.

Over the years, many of those who danced to the Baron's band in local dance halls never forgot him. "You could never go anywhere with him without being stopped," recalls his daughter, Darlene Schramm of Ross.

Even in recent years, he continued to play for some of his longtime fans. Sam Pugliano, radio host of the long-running "Sam's Polka Party " on WKHB-AM, met Mr. Craft in recent years through the Musicians' Union. He last saw him in September, playing for residents at one of the Kane Regional Center homes. "He came out by himself and he just sounded so good," Pugliano recalls. "The residents loved him."

Mr. Craft is survived by his daughter; a sister, Marie Lyons of Reserve; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be at Schellhaas Funeral Home, 388 Center Ave., West View, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow. A Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Sebastian Church, Ross.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the music program at St. Sebastian School, 311 Seibert Road, Pittsburgh 15237.

Adrian McCoy can be reached at amccoy@post-gazette.com.