Bunny Berigan was born Roland Bernard Berigan on November 2, 1908 in Hilbert, Wisconsin. Berigan began playing violin at age 6 and then trumpet by age 11, and was playing professionally by age 13.

He moved to Madison in 1925 and then to New York in 1928. Bergian traveled to Europe with Hal Kemp's band and made his first recorded solos. After returning to the US, he joined Fred Rich's CBS studio band from 1932 until 1935, played freelance sessions for multiple artists, joined pit orchestras on Broadway, and played with Paul Whiteman's orchestra.

Berigan appeared in 1934 musical short "Mirrors," and played with Benny Goodman's orchestra on Goodman's first two hit records as well as Tommy Dorsey's band on two hits. He also organized his own band but it broke up due to severe debt and Berigan's alcoholism, which eventually led to his early death on June 2, 1942. Fox Lake holds an annual Bunny Berigan festivalevery May.

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