"Tommy Dorsey Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the ""Sentimental Gentleman of Swing"" because of his smooth-toned trombone playing. His technical skill on the trombone gave him renown among other musicians. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. After Dorsey broke with his brother in the mid-1930s, he led an extremely popular and highly successful band from the late 1930s into the 1950s. He is best remembered for standards such as ""Opus One"", ""Song of"
"Glenn Miller Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big-band trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best-known big bands. Miller's recordings include ""In the Mood"", ""Moonlight Serenade"", ""Pennsylvania 6-5000"", ""Chattanooga Choo Choo"", ""A String of Pearls"", ""At Last"", ""(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo"", ""American Patrol"", ""Tuxedo Junction"", ""Elmer's Tune"", and ""Little Brown Jug"". In just four years Glenn Miller scored 17 number-one records and 59 top ten hits—more than Elvis Presley (38 top 10s) and the"
"Hank Thompson (musician) Henry William Thompson (September 3, 1925 – November 6, 2007) was an American country music entertainer whose career spanned seven decades. Thompson's musical style, characterized as honky tonk Western swing, was a mixture of fiddles, electric guitar and steel guitar that featured his distinctive, smooth baritone vocals. His backing band, The Brazos Valley Boys, was voted the top Country Western Band for 14 years in a row by ""Billboard"". The primary difference between his music and that of Bob Wills was that Thompson, who used the swing beat and instrumentation to enhance his vocals, discouraged the intense"
"and ""Lover Come Back to Me."" As leader As sideman Johnny Windhurst John Henry Windhurst (November 5, 1926 - October 2, 1981) was a jazz trumpet player, who played primarily in the swing, big-band, and dixieland styles. Windhurst was a self-taught musician and known for his solos; he considered Bix Beiderbecke, Bobby Hackett, Wild Bill Davison, and Bunny Berigan among his influences. His playing style was considered to be a mixture of the delicate playing style of Bobby Hackett with his own feathery vibrato and mobility. Ruby Braff has cited Windhurst as one of his biggest inspirations as a jazz"
"glissing trombones blown through megaphones. A 1948 newspaper article reported that, at that time, ""The band holds the all-time attendance record at Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles."" The Band's theme song was ""The Gentleman Waits"". Osborne led the orchestra for The Abbott and Costello Show. Osborne retired from bandleading in 1957. He then became entertainment director for Harvey's Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Will Osborne (singer) Will Osborne (November 25, 1905 – October 22, 1981) was a Canadian-born American bandleader, trombonist, and vocalist. Osborne started out playing the drums. He began his bandleading career in 1924. He began recording in"
"a considerable range of styles among the hundreds of popular bands. Many of the better known bands reflected the individuality of the bandleader, the lead arranger, and the personnel. Count Basie played a relaxed, propulsive swing, Bob Crosby more of a dixieland style, Benny Goodman a hard driving swing, and Duke Ellington's compositions were varied and sophisticated. Many bands featured strong instrumentalists whose sounds dominated, such as the clarinets of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, the trombone of Jack Teagarden, the trumpet of Harry James, the drums of Gene Krupa, and the vibes of Lionel Hampton. The popularity of many"
"the Sherman where a lean kid was singing with Harry James and inviting him for an audition to Tommy's hotel room...the bobby-soxers sighing and screaming and ""swooning"" over the lean kids vocals... Truculent and sardonic offhorn, onstage Dorsey was the Sentimental Gentleman of Swing. He had the kind of consuming love affair with the sliphorn that drove him to rush off the bandstand at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle to drive down to midtown Manhattan, and after having played long hours for dancers only, trot into the 52nd St. Onyx, horn-in-hand for an into-the-sunrise session of jamming. With"
"straight dance music, made up mainly of ballads and popular tunes. Spivak himself (known as ""Cheery, Chubby Charlie"") had been noted for his trumpet's sweet tone and his strength for playing lead parts, rather than for any improvisational ability. He was also known as ""The Man Who Plays The Sweetest Trumpet In The World"". A number of the band's musicians were to make names for themselves, including drummer Dave Tough, bassist Jimmy Middleton, trumpeters Les Elgart and Paul Fredricks, saxophonist Don Raffell, trombonist Nelson Riddle, trombonist Jimmy Knepper, and singers Garry Stevens, June Hutton, Tommy Mercer, Jimmy Saunders, and Irene"
"Buddy Morrow Buddy Morrow (born Muni Zudekoff, aka Moe Zudekoff; February 8, 1919, New Haven, Connecticut – September 27, 2010) was an American trombonist and bandleader. He is known for his mastery of the upper range which is evident on records such as ""The Golden Trombone,"" as well as his ballad playing. Morrow was once a member of the Tonight Show Band. His early 1950s records such as ""Rose, Rose, I Love You"" and ""Night Train"" appeared in the US ""Billboard"" charts. ""Night Train"" reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1953. In 1959 and 1960 Morrow's"
"Will Osborne (singer) Will Osborne (November 25, 1905 – October 22, 1981) was a Canadian-born American bandleader, trombonist, and vocalist. Osborne started out playing the drums. He began his bandleading career in 1924. He began recording in 1929 with a light, crooning vocal style similar to Rudy Vallée's. While Vallée was in Hollywood for the filming of ""The Vagabond Lover"", Osborne took over for him at his Heigh-Ho Club. Osborne's orchestra focused on the trombone; he called this ""slide music."" In his book, ""The Big Bands"", George T. Simon noted that the tenor of the times contributed to Osborne's early"
"his 51st birthday. Cecil Brower Cecil Lee Brower (November 28, 1914 – November 21, 1965) was a classically trained American jazz violinist who became an architect of Western swing in the 1930s. Perhaps the greatest swing fiddler, he could improvise as well as ""double shuffle"" and created his own style which became the benchmark for his contemporaries. Brower played in many Western bands, including his own, and was a renowned Nashville session musician. He performed with some of the biggest names in country music until his death at age 50 while a member of Jimmy Dean's band. Brower is a"
"Bill Watrous William Russell Watrous III (June 8, 1939 – July 2, 2018) was an American jazz trombonist. He is perhaps best known by casual fans of jazz music for his rendition of Sammy Nestico's arrangement of the Johnny Mandel ballad ""A Time for Love"" which he recorded on a 1993 album of the same name. A self-described ""bop-oriented"" player, he was well known among fellow trombonists as a master technician and for his mellifluous sound. Watrous' father, also a trombonist, introduced him to the instrument at an early age. While serving in the U.S. Navy, Watrous studied with jazz"
"Santo Pecora Santo Pecora (born Santo Pecoraro, March 21, 1902, New Orleans – May 29, 1984, New Orleans) was an American jazz trombonist known for his longtime association with the New Orleans jazz scene. His nickname was ""Mr. Tailgate"". Pecora changed his name because his cousin, a drummer, was also named Santo Pecoraro. The two sometimes performed in ensembles together. Pecora began on French horn but settled on trombone as a teenager. He played in orchestras accompanying silent films as well as with the bandleaders Johnny De Droit and Leon Roppolo. He toured with singer Bee Palmer early in the"
"Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986), best known as Benny Goodman, was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader known as the ""King of Swing"". In the mid-1930s, Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in the United States. His concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 16, 1938 is described by critic Bruce Eder as ""the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music."" Goodman's bands started the careers of many jazz musicians. During an era of"
"Train"" by Jimmy Forrest — was a crossover into rhythm and blues. With Gato Barbieri With Count Basie With David ""Fathead"" Newman Buddy Morrow Buddy Morrow (born Muni Zudekoff, aka Moe Zudekoff; February 8, 1919, New Haven, Connecticut – September 27, 2010) was an American trombonist and bandleader. He is known for his mastery of the upper range which is evident on records such as ""The Golden Trombone,"" as well as his ballad playing. Morrow was once a member of the Tonight Show Band. His early 1950s records such as ""Rose, Rose, I Love You"" and ""Night Train"" appeared in"
"Geraldo (bandleader) Gerald Walcan Bright (10 August 1904 – 4 May 1974), better known as Geraldo, was an English bandleader. He adopted the name ""Geraldo"" in 1930, and became one of the most popular British dance band leaders of the 1930s with his ""sweet music"" and his ""Gaucho Tango Orchestra"". During the 1940s, he modernized his style and continued to enjoy great success. Bright was born in London, where he played piano and organ and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He started his career as a pianist playing for silent films. Geraldo became a major figure on the"
"Fletcher Henderson James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson Jr. (December 18, 1897 – December 29, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black musical arrangers and, along with Duke Ellington, is considered one of the most influential arrangers and bandleaders in jazz history. Henderson's influence was vast. He helped bridge the gap between the Dixieland and the swing eras. He was often known as ""Smack"" Henderson (apparently because of his skill as a batter playing baseball in college). James Fletcher Henderson was"
"his own name (Benny Morton & His Orchestra). Made up mostly of member of Fletcher Henderson's and Don Redman's band, they included: Henry Allen-trumpet/Benny Morton-trombone/Edward Inge-clarinet and alto saxophone/Jerry Blake-clarinet-alto saxophone)/Ted McRae-tenor saxophone/Don Kirkpatrick-piano/Bobby Johnson-guitar/Billy Taylor-slap bass/Manzie Johnson-drums. (+ also issued on Columbia 36011, part of the early 1940s 4 record album set ""Hot Trombones"") With Count Basie With Ray Bryant Benny Morton Benny Morton (January 31, 1907 – December 28, 1985), born in New York City, was a jazz trombonist most associated with the swing genre. He was praised by fellow trombonist Bill Watrous among others. One of his"
"Ben Pollack Ben Pollack (June 22, 1903 – June 7, 1971) was an American drummer and bandleader from the mid-1920s through the swing era. His eye for talent led him to employ musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Jimmy McPartland, and Harry James. This ability earned him the nickname the ""Father of Swing"". Ben Pollack was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1903. He played drums in school and formed groups on the side, performing professionally in his teens. He joined the Harry Bastin Band and then the New Orleans Rhythm Kings in the 1920s. In 1924 he"
"as many troops as possible. His superior accomplishments are highly commendable and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States."" Glenn Miller had three recordings that were posthumously inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, which is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have ""qualitative or historical significance."" Notes Bibliography Glenn Miller Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big-band trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was the best-selling recording artist"
"Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he is considered one of the three most important ""swing tenors"" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Known affectionately as ""The Brute"" or ""Frog"", he had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with growls), yet on ballads he played with warmth and sentiment. He was indebted to alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, who, he said, taught him to play his instrument. Webster learned to play xylophone and Electric guitar at an early age before taking"
"Lucky Millinder Lucius Venable ""Lucky"" Millinder (August 8, 1910 – September 28, 1966) was an American rhythm-and-blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful. His group was said to have been the greatest big band to play rhythm and blues, and gave work to a number of musicians who later became influential at the dawn of the rock and roll era. He was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1986. Millinder was born Lucius Venables in"
"the name Harold Bennett. Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers. Fillmore was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the eldest of five children. In his youth he mastered piano, guitar, violin, flute, and slide trombone. He kept his trombone activities a secret at first, as his circumspect religious father James Henry Fillmore (1849–1936)—a composer of gospel songs, often in collaboration with Jessie Brown Pounds —believed it an uncouth and sinful instrument. Henry's mother secretly bought a used trombone for him"
"Tadd Dameron Tadley Ewing Peake Dameron (February 21, 1917 – March 8, 1965) was an American jazz composer, arranger, and pianist. Saxophonist Dexter Gordon called him the ""romanticist"" of the bop movement, while reviewer Scott Yanow wrote that Dameron was the ""definitive arranger/composer of the bop era"". Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dameron was the most influential arranger of the bebop era, but also wrote charts for swing and hard bop players. The bands he arranged for included those of Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Jimmie Lunceford, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, and Sarah Vaughan. In 1940-41 he was the piano player and"
"Milton Brown Milton Brown (September 8, 1903 – April 18, 1936) was an American band leader and vocalist who co-founded the genre of Western swing. His band was the first to fuse hillbilly hokum, jazz, and pop together into a unique, distinctly American hybrid, thus giving him the nickname, ""Father of Western Swing"". The birthplace of Brown's upbeat ""hot-jazz hillbilly"" string band sound was developed at the Crystal Springs Dance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas from 1931 to 1936. Along with Bob Wills, with whom he performed at the beginning of his career, Brown developed the sound and style of"
"Bob Wills James Robert Wills (March 6, 1905 – May 13, 1975) was an American Western swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader. Considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western swing, he was widely known as the King of Western Swing (although Spade Cooley self-promoted the moniker ""King Of Western Swing"" from 1942 to 1969). Wills formed several bands and played radio stations around the South and West until he formed the Texas Playboys in 1934 with Wills on fiddle, Tommy Duncan on piano and vocals, rhythm guitarist June Whalin, tenor banjoist Johnnie Lee Wills, and Kermit Whalin, who played"
"Brown, the genre would likely not exist. Milton Brown Milton Brown (September 8, 1903 – April 18, 1936) was an American band leader and vocalist who co-founded the genre of Western swing. His band was the first to fuse hillbilly hokum, jazz, and pop together into a unique, distinctly American hybrid, thus giving him the nickname, ""Father of Western Swing"". The birthplace of Brown's upbeat ""hot-jazz hillbilly"" string band sound was developed at the Crystal Springs Dance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas from 1931 to 1936. Along with Bob Wills, with whom he performed at the beginning of his career,"
"of Benjamin Button"". Manone was survived by his son Joseph Matthew Manone II and grandson Jimmy Manone, who were both musicians, as well as grandsons Joseph Matthew Manone III and Jon Scott (Manone) Harris. ! style=""width:50px;""| Date ! style=""width:300px;""| Title ! style=""width:120px;""| Label ! style=""width:270px;""| Comments For many years Manone's good friend Joe Venuti, the jazz violinist and notorious practical joker, sent Wingy a single cuff link on his birthday. Wingy Manone Joseph Matthews ""Wingy"" Manone (February 13, 1900 – July 9, 1982) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. His recordings included ""Tar Paper Stomp"", ""Nickel in"
"clubs. When their father retired in 1945 and their oldest brother, Duke, took over as leader of the family band, the sisters joined his fourteen-piece orchestra. In addition to the Hampton siblings, Duke Hampton's swing band included several well-known Indianapolis jazz musicians, such as Alonzo ""Pookie"" Johnson and Bill Penick on saxophone, trombonist-bass player Eugene Fowlkes, and drummers Sonny Johnson, Dick Dickerson, and Thomas Whitted. According to an later interview with Virtue Hampton, who married Whitted, each member of the group had a role and no one was singled out as the star. In May 1952, after Duke Hampton's band"
"the U.S. on March 24, 2017. In his ""New York Times"" review A.O. Scott called the film ""a delicate human drama about love, ambition and the glories of music"". Lee Morgan Edward Lee Morgan (July 10, 1938 – February 19, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter. Known mainly as one of the key hard bop musicians of the 1960s, Morgan came to prominence in his late teens, recording on John Coltrane's ""Blue Train"" (1957) and with the band of drummer Art Blakey before launching a solo career. Morgan stayed with Blakey until 1961 and started to record as leader soon"
"Cecil Brower Cecil Lee Brower (November 28, 1914 – November 21, 1965) was a classically trained American jazz violinist who became an architect of Western swing in the 1930s. Perhaps the greatest swing fiddler, he could improvise as well as ""double shuffle"" and created his own style which became the benchmark for his contemporaries. Brower played in many Western bands, including his own, and was a renowned Nashville session musician. He performed with some of the biggest names in country music until his death at age 50 while a member of Jimmy Dean's band. Brower is a member of the"
"Wingy Manone Joseph Matthews ""Wingy"" Manone (February 13, 1900 – July 9, 1982) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. His recordings included ""Tar Paper Stomp"", ""Nickel in the Slot"", ""Downright Disgusted Blues"", ""There'll Come a Time (Wait and See)"", and ""Tailgate Ramble"". Manone (pronounced ""ma-KNOWN"") was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He lost his right arm in a streetcar accident when he was ten years old, which resulted in his nickname of ""Wingy"". He used a prosthesis so naturally and unnoticeably that his disability was not apparent to the public. After playing trumpet and cornet professionally with"
"Lester Young Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed ""Pres"" or ""Prez"", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most influential players on his instrument. In contrast to many of his hard-driving peers, Young played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies, using what one critic called ""a free-floating style, wheeling and diving like a gull, banking with low, funky riffs that pleased dancers and listeners alike"". Known for his hip, introverted style, he invented or popularized"