Ennis was born in Salisbury, North Carolina and met Hal Kemp while attending the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. He joined Kemp's orchestra as a drummer and vocalist in the late 1920s, playing with him through 1937 including one tour of Europe in 1930. Following this Ennis put together his own band, which became a popular ensemble in Hollywood films. "Got a Date With an Angel" was his theme song. During this time Gil Evans was one of his arrangers. He also did comedy routines, and landed a job on Bob Hope's radio program from 1938 through 1946. He conducted his own service band during World War II and returned to Hollywood bandleading at the war's end.
Toward the end of the 1950s Ennis's career had faded, and he worked mostly in hotels in the Los Angeles area. He choked to death on a bone while eating dinner at a restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1963.
Search Amazon.com for Skinnay" Ennis
Posts
