George William Weidler


George William Weidler was an American saxophonist and songwriter who was born and died in Los Angeles, California. He was the second husband of singer-actress Doris Day and older brother of former child actress Virginia Weidler.

Career

As sideman, Weidler recorded with Freddie Slack, Les Brown, Charlie Barnet, Ike Carpenter, The Delta Rhythm Boys, Stan Kenton, and the Metronome All-Stars. He is credited as having performed on over 57 jazz recordings between 1943 and 1948.
While with Charlie Barnet, his two brothers, Warner and Walter, both saxophonists, were with the band. From the early 1940s, the three also performed as the Weidler Brothers Orchestra until 1952, when they signed with Capitol Records as "The Wilder Brothers." Around 1950, the Weidler Brothers switched from jazz to pop.

Selected discography

With Stan Kenton

Family

George William Weidler was the fifth of six children born to German parents. His father was architect Alfred Weidler, and his mother was opera singer Margarete Therese Louise.
The first four siblings were born in Germany. The eldest sibling, Waldtraud and the youngest sibling, Virginia, were both child film actresses. One of George's three brothers, Warner, was a composer.
George Weidler and brothers Walt and Wolfgang appear as a juvenile saxophone-playing trio in the 1936 Our Gang (The Little Rascals) short film The Pinch Singer.

Marriages

  1. Weidler married Doris Day in 1946, becoming her second of four husbands; the marriage ended in divorce in 1949.
  2. Weidler then married Donna Mae Boniface in Clark County, Washington, on November 16, 1950; the marriage ended in either annulment or divorce in Los Angeles in July 1951.
  3. Weidler then married actress/singer Maureen Arthur on December 5, 1957, in Las Vegas; the marriage ended in divorce in 1970.
  4. Weidler then married Barbara C. Heussenstam on June 21, 1971, in Los Angeles; they remained married until his death in 1989 at the age of 63.