A Jewish Pot Pourri performed by Leo Rosner Orchestra
Object numberM2017/038
TitleA Jewish Pot Pourri performed by Leo Rosner Orchestra
Creator Leopold Rosner (Musician)
DescriptionThis record ‘A Jewish Pot Pourri’ is an album of Jewish songs arranged by Polish-Australian musician Leo Rosner. The record was produced by Australian record label W & G in 1956. It is a long-playing record containing ‘Yiddish tunes in Dance Tempo’ and features Leo playing the piano-accordion. He is accompanied by Lowell Morris on the drums, Harry Hurst on the violin, Jimmy Allen on the flute and clarinet, and Stan Walker on the piano.
Leo Rosner was born in Krakow, Poland, in 1918. As part of a musical family, Leo performed at nightclubs with his father. During the war, his family was forced into the Krakow ghetto and Leo met his wife Helen while performing in a ghetto cafe. Leo and Helen were sent to Płaszów concentration camp, where Leo and his brother performed for camp commander Amon Goeth. During one of these performances, Leo and his brother were noticed by Oskar Schindler, who put Leo’s family on his ‘list’ of Jews to be saved, and they were sent to Brinnlitz to work in Schindler’s ammunitions factory.
In 1949 Leo and Helen migrated to Australia. Leo was prominent on the Melbourne music scene in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. In the 1950s he began playing accordion and double bass at a number of Melbourne cabarets, at venues like the New Empire Ballroom and Troika. His first two albums, Jewish Pot Pourri (1956) and International Medley (1957) were recorded with the W&G label. In the 1960s and ‘70s he opened his own music venues in St Kilda and Esternwick, and frequently played at weddings, bar mitzvahs, engagements and birthday parties. In recent years Leo was a volunteer at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and Research centre.
Leo Rosner was born in Krakow, Poland, in 1918. As part of a musical family, Leo performed at nightclubs with his father. During the war, his family was forced into the Krakow ghetto and Leo met his wife Helen while performing in a ghetto cafe. Leo and Helen were sent to Płaszów concentration camp, where Leo and his brother performed for camp commander Amon Goeth. During one of these performances, Leo and his brother were noticed by Oskar Schindler, who put Leo’s family on his ‘list’ of Jews to be saved, and they were sent to Brinnlitz to work in Schindler’s ammunitions factory.
In 1949 Leo and Helen migrated to Australia. Leo was prominent on the Melbourne music scene in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. In the 1950s he began playing accordion and double bass at a number of Melbourne cabarets, at venues like the New Empire Ballroom and Troika. His first two albums, Jewish Pot Pourri (1956) and International Medley (1957) were recorded with the W&G label. In the 1960s and ‘70s he opened his own music venues in St Kilda and Esternwick, and frequently played at weddings, bar mitzvahs, engagements and birthday parties. In recent years Leo was a volunteer at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and Research centre.
Production placeMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Production date 1956 - 1956
Subjectconcentration camps, camp music, music, post war life, immigration, ghettos
Object namegramophone records
Dimensions
- width: 258.00 mm
height: 260.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Tinny Lenthen