Mike Pantone Chronology

Notes from Fulton History Website

1924 - Mike Pantone – banjo, violin instruction. Albany School of Music (Albany Evening Journal)

- 6/6/24 (Sch Gazette) – “King Jazz and His Band from Albany featuring Mike Pantone, singing banjoist”

1924 - (Sch. Gaz) 6/10/24 – Brandywine Park – King Jazz and his Band from Albany, featuring Mike Pantone, the Singing Banjoist

1926 - (Warrensburg News) – 5/1/26 – PHOTO – “Pine Lodge Pavilion – King Jazz and his Orchestra

Mike Pantone, Premier Banjoist

Peter Emma, NY’s Greatest Pianist

Hank Becker, Drums

Francis Delaney, Sax

Marvin Chamberlain, Trumpet

Frank Graves, Eccentric Violinist

1926 - (Sch Gaz) – 10-7-26 – Odd Fellow’s Hall, Beaver St., Albany. “King Jazz (Himself) with Peter Emma and Mike Pantone”

1926 - (Sch Gaz) – 10/14/26 – Odd Fellow’s Hall…”music by Frank Graves and His Band – featuring Peter Emma and Mike Pantone, Radio Artists, Albany’s Best Orchestra”

1927 - 2/2/27 – Odd Fellow’s Hall – King Jazz – Albany’s champion orchestra – with Pete Emma and Mike Pantone

- 10/28/27 - Sons of Italy Hall – MP Orchestra

- 11/19/27 - King Jazz Orch – members – Pete Emma, pianist; Mike Pantone, banjo; Frances Delaney – sax; Henry Becker, drums; Al Phillips, trumpet, Bud Deleroth, sax.

1927 - (from “The Billboard”) – “ King Jazz Orchestra of Albany, NY which plays at MidCity Park and other nearby resorts during the summer months, broadcasted a program of dance music from station WHAZ in Troy, Monday evening, Dec. 23. Frank E. Graves, leader of the orchestra offered a violin specialty, Mike Pantone, banjo soloist, Peter Emma piano selection, Melville Chamberlain trumpet solo, and Joseph Pantone violin solo…”

1928 - (Albany Evening Journal – AEJ) – ad for Thomas Music stores, 101 N. Pearl

- “Albany’s famous banjoist Mike Pantone”

5-24-1929 - Dance – Son’s of Italy Juniors – “featuring Mike Pantone and his “Jazz Babies”

1930 - 5/29/30 – Sherman’s Pavilion (near Amsterdam) – “Mike Pantone and His Music from Albany”

1930 - (Sch Gaz) – 6/26/30 – Green Lantern, Saratoga Road, Mike Pantone’s Band

1930 - (Sch Gaz) – 7/5/30 – “Grand opening of Air-O-Dance Hall. Largest and most up-to-date Dance Hall in the Capital District parking for up to 1,000 cars. Mike Pantone of Albany.

1930 - (Sch Gaz) – 7/25/30 – Green Lantern – Dance with Mike Pantone’s Orchestra

1930 - 8/1/30 – Mid-City Park – Mike Pantone and His Sailor Boys

- 8/23/30 – Mid-City – benefit – MP’s Orchestra

Many dates in Air-O-Dance – 1930 through 1931

1931 - Healey’s – Music by Mike Pantone, formerly with King Jazz

1931 - (Alb Eve News) – 5/28/31 – Sherman’s Pavilion – Caroga Lake “One of America’s Greatest Bands, Mike Pantone and his Orchestra of Albany”

1931 - (Sch Gaz) – 6/19/31 – Mike Pantone and His Jolly Entertainers at Mariaville Lake

On WOKO radio – 1931 – 1932 – often at 6:30pm

1933 - Odd Fellow’s Hall – 10/31 – Mike Pantone and his Orchestra

- Carmen Grill – 562 Clinton Ave – Mike Pantone and his Orchestra

1934 - played at Carmen Grill

1937 - March – Matt Loftus Inn – Alb-Troy Rd. Mike Pantone and his Orchestra with singer Rea Lawrence

1937 - April – Grand Opening – Canton Restaurant, 23 So. Pearl; Mike Pantone and His Boys, featuring Skip De Sale, The Benny Goodman of Albany

1937 - Mid-City in Menands – Mike Pantone and his Orchestra

1938 - Matt Loftus Inn – Albany – Schenectady Rd

Played many dates January – September, 1938

1939 - MIKE PANTONE, one of Albany's (N. Y.) outstanding ork leaders, critically ill for several weeks at St. Peter's Hospital, has shown a marked improvement (from Billboard, July 20, 1939)

1940 - January – June - Lark Tavern

June 7 – July 13 – Manor Inn

Sept 21 – Oct 12 – Pine Inn

Oct 19 – Dec 31 – Lark Tavern

1942 - Died, Thursday, June 11, 1942 at home on 342 Madison Avenue, Albany.

Pantone played the Lark Tavern the three weekends previous to his death.

Billboard Magazine, June, 1942:

PANTONE--Michael A. (Mike), 42, orchestra leader, at his home in Albany, N. Y., June 11. Survived by widow, father and two brothers. Funeral June 15 from St. Anthony's Church, Albany.