He was the middle child of nine children and one of six brothers who became bandleaders, playing in ballrooms and at resorts. He attended South Philadelphia High School, where he began playing cornet, leaving when he was 15 to go into music.
He was the middle child of a large family, with six brothers who all became bandleaders, playing in ballrooms and resorts. He attended South Philadelphia High School, where he began playing the cornet at age 15, leaving school to pursue music full-time.