Peter Duchin was raised on the vast estate of Averell Harriman. His mother died when he was born, and his father, the famous bandleader Eddy Duchin, was always on the road. Peter eventually followed in the footsteps of his father. This autobiography of America's preeminent society bandleader is at once a poignant tale of a complicated family and a riveting look at society and show business. photos.
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Peter Duchin was raised on the vast estate of Averell Harriman. His mother died when he was born, and his father, the famous bandleader Eddy Duchin, was always on the road. Peter eventually followed in the footsteps of his father. This autobiography of America's preeminent society bandleader is at once a poignant tale of a complicated family and a riveting look at society and show business. photos.
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Peter Duchin writes with a quiet voice yet not a bland one . His father was the famous bandleader and pianist, Eddy Duchin, and his mother a beautiful and vibrant woman from a prominent American family. When she died shortly after childbirth, Peter was shunted out to good friends Marie and Averell Harriman and lived a life of ease on their 10,000 acre estate, Arden. He saw his father only intermittently. One of the most enjoyable parts of the book is the description of his life during his time at Arden, where the reader can vicariously experience a world of pleasant servants, of things running like clockwork and of space and privilege. But although he called Marie Harriman 'Ma' and loved her, he felt an outsider, as in adulthood he admitted to Jackie Onassis. From what we can tell, he had the run of Harriman homes but with the silent proviso that he did what he was told., and to all intents and purposes he did, notwithstanding a couple of misdemeanours.
His father arranged for Peter to take piano lessons, but these were given up because of a dislike of practice. Later as a teenager at his college and under the tutelage of talented teachers, he discovered a love of the classics and the importance to him of jazz; obviously with the help of his father's musical genes. He begins to shine and there is a very interesting description of being 'discovered' by the great Mary Martin.
This is a book of growing 'knowingness', of innocence to awareness, of success to a quieter acceptance.
There is a strange twist in the vagaries of fate, when Pamela Digby/Churchill/Hayward, one time stepmother of Brooke Hayward, and Peter's second wife, becomes the second Mrs. Averell Harriman. Peter's tone is scathing when discussing her.
It's not a great book, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. Peter Duchin lived with society, played for society, played at the weddings of President Johnson's daughters in the White House and many other important events. He comes across as a likeable man with an interesting story to tell.
