Wartime United States army air corp turned him back into a trumpeter;[1] he also recorded with Lester Young on piano and directed music for Moss Hart’s morale-booster Winged Victory on Broadway for six months before serving in the South Pacific.

After his service in World War II he worked with Louis Armstrong, Bud Freeman and Benny Goodman.

[2] Bushkin performed with Louis Armstrong and his All Stars with Velma Middleton singing vocals for the ninth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles.

According to Coyne Steven Sanders, author of the book Rainbow's End: The Judy Garland Show, Bushkin was a last-minute replacement for the classic pianist Leonard Pennario.

The couple had four daughters (Mrs. Nina Judson, Mrs. Maria Stave, Mrs. Tippy Bushkin, and Mrs. Christina Merrill).