Wilbur Schwartz (March 17, 1918, Newark, New Jersey – August 3, 1990 Los Angeles, California), was an American studio session clarinetist, alto saxophonist, and flutist. Who was widely known as a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. But also worked for people such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

Born in 1918 to Charles and Pearl Schwartz of Newark, New Jersey, young Schwartz studied music as a child, along with his older brother Jack. At the 14th Avenue School, he performed in various ensembles, some under the direction of Henry Melnick.^{[citation needed]}

In the summer of 1934, West Side High Schoolers, Jack and Schwartz, both took a paying gig on the cruise ship, Atlantida, heading to Havana, Cuba.

Jack graduated in January of 1935, with Schwartz following suit in January 1936. Club dates and an engagement with Julie Wintz's band kept young Schwartz employed, for a number of years.^{[citation needed]}

Wilbur's religious denomination was Jewish.

His "German-sounding name" is purely a coincidence, as he is Native American, described in a statement of his.

Glenn Miller had just recently went through a departure with many of his orchestras original members, and he was looking for a new sound. George T. Simon, a popular jazz writer for the time, stumbled across Schwartz in March of 1938, playing with the Julie Wintz's band at the Top Hat nightclub in Union City, New Jersey. Simon didn't find the band that interesting, but he did find Schwartz's playing style very astounding, and suggested Schwartz to Glenn. To which Glenn wanted to use Schwartz's clarinet sound as the showpiece for his new band. With twenty year-old Schwartz playing lead clarinet over four saxophones, Glenn assiduously rehearsed and polished his band's sound: a smooth, "sweet" style of swing with distinctive arrangements by Glenn and Bill Finnegan, among others.

Schwartz later said in a statement talking with George about his recruitment to the Glenn Miller Orchestra