Complex sentence: Joe Venuti, "the Father of Jazz Violin," enjoyed a recording career under his own billing that stretched from 1926 to 1978; apart from momentary lapses in the years after 1935 and one big gap from 1961-1967 this activity is practically continuous.
Split into simpler sentences: Joe Venuti, "the Father of Jazz Violin," enjoyed a recording career under his own billing that stretched from 1926 to 1978. Besides momentary lapses in the years after 1935 and one big gap from 1961 to 1967, this activity is practically continuous.