While still in his late teens Stan Kenton toured as a member of several local groups from Southern California; his first professional work came for a trip to San Diego. He first got his notable professional work during the 1930s, first with in the dance band of Everett Hoagland in 1934. Kenton would later compliment Hoagland on his leadership skills and what he had learned from being his band. "I played with Everett for about a year and a half,and I know that of the things I applied to my own bands in later years I can trace back to the schooling IreceivedfromEverettHoagland."Kenton met other key players in that group such as Vido Musso and Bob Gioga who would be on later bands of Kenton's in the 1940s. 　　In April of 1936 Gus Arnheim was reorganizing his band into the style of Benny Goodman's groups and Kenton was to take to piano chair. This is where Kenton would make his first recordings when Arnheim made 14 sides for the Brunswick label in Summer of 1937. Once he departed from Gus Arnheim's group, Kenton went back to study with private teachers on both the piano and in composition. In 1938 Kenton would join Vido Musso in a short lived band but a very educational experience for him. From the core of this group come the line up of the first Stan Kenton groups of the 1940s. Kenton would also go onto working on the NBC House Band and in various Hollywood studios and clubs. Producer George Avakian took notice of Kenton during this time while he worked as the pianist and Assistant Musical Director at the Earl Carroll Theatre Restaurant in Hollywood. Kenton started to get the idea of running his own band from this experience; he created a rehearsal band of his own which eventually become his groups in the 1940s.