Jan Savitt (born Jacob Savetnick; September 4, 1907 – October 4, 1948) was an American bandleader, musical arranger, and violinist.
Savitt was born in Shumsk, then part of the Russian Empire (now part of Ukraine). He was invited to join the Philadelphia Orchestra when he was nineteen, having studied at the Curtis Institute and in Europe. His band The Top Hatters was formed in 1937 and began touring the following year. Their songs include "720 in the Books", "It's A Wonderful World" and his theme songs "Quaker City Jazz" and "From Out Of Space". Savitt was one of the first of the big band leaders to feature an African American vocalist, George Tunnell("Bon Bon"). His other vocalists were Carlotta Dale, Allan DeWitt, Joe Martin, and Gloria DeHaven. His band names include Jan Savitt & His Top Hatters, the Jan Savitt String Orchestra and Jan Savitt & His Orchestra.
Savitt recorded short pieces for the National Broadcasting System's Thesaurus series, probably in the 1940s. These were pieces radio stations used as 'fillers' just prior to network programs, which would begin precisely on the hour or half-hour. Disc 1143 in the Thesaurus catalogue features four selections by the Jan Savitt Orchestra on one side of the 33 1/3 transcription: "The Masquarade is Over I'm Afraid"; "If I Didn't Care"; "Ring Dem Bells", and "Romance Runs in the Family".
Shortly before arriving in Sacramento, California, with his orchestra on Saturday, October 2, 1948, for a concert scheduled for that evening at Memorial Auditorium, Savitt was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage and taken to Sacramento County Hospital. Savitt died on October 4, with his wife at his bedside.