left because of the prejudice she experienced on the road.

Still, Shaw's orchestra became the most popular band in America and he sold millions of records. But the bandleader wasn't interested in commercial success, and said he got tired of "playing the same bloody pieces" over and over again.

Break Up Only To Make Up

Once again, Shaw disbanded his group, and this time headed for Mexico. He resurfaced in Hollywood and was featured in the Fred Astaire film Second Chorus. He also recorded his next big hit, Frenesi. That success forced Shaw to assemble another touring band. Out of this orchestra, the clarinetist distilled the first of a series of acclaimed small groups called The Gramercy Five.

But — you guessed it — Shaw broke up the orchestra, and he didn'tform another band until 1942. He was in the U.S. Navy, and he entertained troops fighting in the Pacific.

After World War II, Shaw returned to the U.S. to lead some of the most modern groups of his career, one of which showcased virtuoso trumpeter Roy Eldridge. In 1949, Shaw's most experimental big band tackled the new jazz called bebop — and met with an underwhelming response from audiences. Soon after, Shaw was called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, which was hunting down Communists in the entertainment industry.

Shaw was fed up. He made his last Gramercy Five recordings in 1954 before putting down his clarinet and leaving the country.

For Shaw, "playing the clarinet was only one manifestation of an overall thirst to learn about the world." He