George William Weidler


George William Weidler was an American saxophonist and songwriter. 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
George William Weidler was one of six children born to the architect Alfred Weidler and opera singer Margarete Therese Louisa. The first four siblings were born in Germany. The eldest sibling, Waldtraud and the youngest sibling, Virginia, were both child film actresses. And one of his three brothers, Warner, was a composer.

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 singer and actress 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.