Lou Busch

American composer, pianist, arranger and conductor. Born July 18, 1910 in Louisville, Kentucky. Died September 19, 1979 (aged 69) in Camarillo, California. Married to singer/actress Janet Blair 1943-1950 (divorced) and singer/actress Margaret Whiting 1950-3. Best known by his alternate persona, Joe "Fingers" Carr. He got his start early, leading his own band by the age of 12 and leaving home at 16 to work as a professional musician. He played with a number of sweet big bands--Clyde McCoy, Henry Busse, and George Olson--then took a short break to study at the Cincinnati Conservatory. As "Fingers", Busch/Carr's success spurred a revival of ragtime in the form of camped-up honky tonk.