Dick McPartland was the older brother of Jimmy McPartland

Jimmy McPartland

James Dugald McPartland , better known as Jimmy McPartland, was an American cornetist and one of the originators of Chicago Jazz...

, and he was an early member of the Austin High School Gang

Austin High School Gang

The Austin High Gang was the name given to a young group of young, white musicians from the west side of Chicago, near Austin High School, who rose to prominence as originators of the Chicago style of jazz in the 1920s.The members of the Austin High Gang were:...

 that helped establish Chicago-style jazz in the 1920s. McPartland started out on the violin

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

 before switching to banjo

Banjo

In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...

 and guitar

Guitar

The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

. He played primarily in Chicago during the 1920s including with Red McKenzie

Red McKenzie

Red McKenzie was an American jazz musician. He was the best-known, and one of the only, comb players in jazz history....

, where he was Eddie Lang

Eddie Lang

Eddie Lang was an American jazz guitarist, regarded as the Father of Jazz Guitar. He played a Gibson L-4 and L-5 guitar, providing great influence for many guitarists, including Django Reinhardt.-Biography:...

's replacement; he recorded with Irving Mills

Irving Mills

Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...

 in 1928 and Jack Teagarden

Jack Teagarden

Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden , known as "Big T" and "The Swingin' Gate", was an influential jazz trombonist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist, regarded as the "Father of Jazz Trombone".-Early life:...

in 1929. Dick's rhythm guitar can be heard on sessions led by Jimmy in 1936 and 1939. An early heart attack forced Dick to retire from full-time music by his early 30s. Later, he was a cab driver, only appearing at an occasional concert, including in 1955 when he played his final gig. He never led his own record date.