Archives On The Air 200: Peanuts Played The Clarinet—Peanuts Hucko Papers

By Wyoming Public Media

Published June 18, 2020 at 2:51 PM MDT

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Michael "Peanuts" Hucko playing clarinet on the Lawrence Welk show, early 1970s. Peanuts Hucko papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

American Heritage Center

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Michael "Peanuts" Hucko playing clarinet on the Lawrence Welk show, early 1970s. Peanuts Hucko papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

American Heritage Center

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Poster for Peanuts Hucko Jazz Five, 1970s. Peanuts Hucko papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

American Heritage Center

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Poster for Peanuts Hucko Jazz Five, 1970s. Peanuts Hucko papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

American Heritage Center

Peanuts Hucko was a renowned jazz clarinet player during the big band era. He started out with the saxophone during his U.S Army career but found it cumbersome to play while marching.

After switching to the clarinet, he was spotted by bandleader Glenn Miller who immediately pulled Hucko into his Army Air Forces band during World War II.

Hucko went on to tour Japan with the Benny Goodman orchestra in 1951. While there he recorded a song called "Suzukake No Michi" with clarinetist?Shoji Suzuki?and his Rhythm Aces. The recording broke sales records in Japan.

Learn more about Peanuts Hucko at UW's American Heritage Center.