Bob McCracken

Bob McCracken (1904-1972) was an American jazz clarinetist. Born in Dallas, Texas, he began his career playing with local musicians in Dallas before moving to New York City in the late 1920s. McCracken worked with various bands and artists, including Johnnie Johnston, Willard Robison's Levee Loungers, and Joe Venuti. He later relocated to Chicago, where he played with renowned musicians such as Bud Freeman, Jimmy McPartland, and Benny Goodman. McCracken substituted for Barney Bigard in the Louis Armstrong All-Stars international tour in the early 1950s and toured with Kid Ory and Red Allen throughout the 1950s. In his later years, he played in Dixieland revival groups in Los Angeles. McCracken's contributions to jazz clarinet are highly regarded.