| 1913 |
John McClaninan Best Jr., born 20 Oct. in Shelby, North Carolina |
1919 - 1920 |
Took piano lessons in elementary school |
| 1926 | Started playing cornet |
| 1927 | Bought first trumpet for $52 |
| 1928 - 1930 |
Formed a high school dance band |
| 1930 - 1931 |
Attended Davidson college; played in a band called the Sunnyland Serenaders |
| 1932 |
Played in the Duke Blue Devils band
|
| 1933 |
Played in a dance band in Saint Augustine, Florida
|
| 1933 - 1934 |
Played in Hank Biagini's band in Springfield, Mass.
|
| 1935 - 1936 |
Attended University of North Carolina and played in campus band
|
| 1937 - 1939 |
Played in Artie Shaw's band
|
| 1939 - 1942 |
Joined Glenn Miller's band
|
| 1942 - 1943 |
Played briefly in Bob Crosby's band and then teamed up with Artie Shaw and his Navy band
|
| 1944 - 1945 |
Stationed in England for one year; played with Navy Band 501 (Sam Donahue - leader)
|
| 1945 - 1946 |
Played in Benny Goodman's band
|
| 1946 |
Moved to Los Angeles, CA; studied harmony and arranging
|
| 1953 |
Played on radio for the Bob Crosby show; toured with Billy May's band
|
| 1955 |
Played in Bob Crosby's band for television
|
| 1960 |
Recorded with Ray Conniff for Columbia International
|
| 1964 |
Played in Bob Crosby's band at the Tokyo Olympics
|
| 1966 |
Met and married Mary Lou
|
| 1970 |
Formed small bands and played with local musicians in club dates
|
| 1973 |
Toured for 20 weeks with Billy May throughout the U.S.
|
| 1981 |
Played in Australia for a Glenn Miller revival event
|
| 1982 |
Broke his back while working in his avocado orchard
|
| 1987 |
Toured with Ray Conniff
|
| 1990 |
Toured Japan and Holland with Zeke Zarchy
|
| 1995 |
Played Glenn Miller tribute for PBS television
Represented Glenn Miller alumni in New York city parade and at the Roseland Ballroom commemorating the 50th anniversary of WWII Armistice Day
|
| 1996 |
Toured Australia and Tasmania, during which time Mary Lou passed away
|
| 2003 |
19 September 2003 died at his home in La Jolla, CA |
