Alvino Rey

Born in Oakland, California in 1908, Alvino Rey (real name Alvin McBurney) started out on banjo before switching to guitar at the age of twelve. Early influences included Eddie Lang and Roy Smeck.

In the late 1920s he joined Phil Spitalny’s Orchestra playing guitar and banjo. After a two-year stint in New York with Spitalny, Alvino left for California where he joined NBC radio in San Francisco. It was around this time that he changed his name.

See Alvino’s L-5 here

He became a member of Horace Heidt’s band in 1933, playing both Spanish and steel guitar.

In May of 1935, the band went to Chicago to play the Silver Forest room of the Drake hotel and Alvino opened and closed every show on the electric guitar. At this time, he was the highest paid front-man in any orchestra.

In 1944, he joined the United States Navy and during this period led a service outfit, the Radio Chicago Orchestra. After his discharge in 1945, he formed a new band, which released a hit cover of Slim Gaillard’s song, Cement Mixer. Through the 1950s he lead a number of smaller bands, mostly in Southern California.

Can you spot Alvino? He’s sitting all on his own at the back of the orchestra in this picture from 1929 holding a banjo. It shows Phil Spitalney, Conductor of the Earl Orchestra, at an event for Greets Radio’s distributors and dealers, at the RMA Show in Chicago

Above, Alvino playing his Gibson L-5.
Image courtesy of Paul Fox

A great piece of ephemera, this cigarette packet shows an advertisement from Gibson for its Mandolins and Banjos featuring Alvino (using his real name, Al McBurney) as “Banjoist-Guitarist” of Phil Spitalny’s Orchestra in New York. It is from a 1929 convention and has been established as the earliest known commercial Gibson advertising item that is not from, but sponsored by, Gibson.

Alvino finally makes it to the front row in this image, also from 1929.

Alvino plays Serial Number 85254