James F. Burke (musician)

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James Francis Burke
Background information
Birth nameJames Francis Burke
Born(1923-04-15)April 15, 1923
Port Jefferson, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 26, 1981(1981-06-26) (aged 58)
New York City, U.S.
GenresConcert band
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Cornet, trumpet
Years active1943-1974
LabelsDecca Records, Golden Crest Records

James Francis Burke (April 15, 1923 – June 26, 1981) was an American cornet soloist. He was the principal cornet soloist with the Goldman Band from 1943 to 1974.[1] He was also the principal trumpet with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from 1943 to 1949.[2] Mr. Burke, who had the use of only one arm, was considered the greatest virtuoso of his time on the instrument, according to Ainslee Cox, conductor of the Guggenheim[1] Memorial Band.

Early life[edit]

James Francis (Jimmy) Burke was born in Port Jefferson, New York. At his birth, Jimmy sustained a brachial plexus injury,[3] rendering his right arm useless. He began to play the trumpet at age 5, but since he could not hold the horn, his father had a tripod stand built for him. The top of it was shaped like a horseshoe and the horn would sit in that stand with a strap going over it in front of the valves. The stand was on rollers and could also be raised and lowered like a music stand.

When he was seven years old, he started performing for the Rotary Club and for different organizations. In 1936 he played on WJZ (AM) on Sunday mornings from 9 to 10 o'clock. The program was called "Coast To Coast On A Bus" and Milton Cross was the announcer. Then from 11 to 12 o'clock, he went to ABC (which was CBS at that time) to The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour. Paul Douglas (actor) was the announcer. Jimmy played on these 2 shows for 7 years, playing 2 different solos every morning. When he was 13, some of the participants from The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour made a movie for Warner Brothers called "Stars Of Tomorrow". In the film, 5 boys make up a hillbilly band.

Education[edit]

Jimmy's first teacher was his father from the age of 5 until the age of 13.[1] He then studied with Del Staigers in 1936 and 1937.[1] Lessons were conducted at Staigers' apartment in Sunnyside, Queens, New York. He regarded Staigers as the greatest player he had ever heard. It was Staigers who suggested to the King Musical Instrument Company that they build a cornet for left handed playing. Jimmy then studied with John "Ned" Mahoney,[1] a cornetist with The Goldman Band and a graduate of The Ernest Williams School of Music. From 1938 through 1943 Burke attended Ernest Williams School of Music at 153 Ocean Avenue Brooklyn, New York.[1] During those 6 summers, he attended The Ernest Williams Band Camp at Saugerties, New York.

The Goldman Band[edit]

From 1943 to 1974 Jimmy was the principal cornet soloist[4] and solo chair with The Goldman Band.[1] During his 32-year career, he was contracted to play five solos each week. The band performed seven nights a week with 50 concerts in a summer season. All totaled, Jimmy performed over 1,100 solos with The Goldman Band. He had a prodigious memory for music and rarely read from sheet music during a performance.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra[edit]

In 1943 Jimmy moved to Baltimore and began a seven-year stint as principal trumpet with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra[2] as well as the Professor of Trumpet at Peabody Conservatory and Conductor of the band.[5] During the summers, he took the train to New York City to play with The Goldman Band.

Cities Service Band of America[edit]

Upon his return from Baltimore in 1950, Jimmy received a call from Paul Lavalle who asked him to join his band. Jimmy stayed with the band for six years. He had a featured solo performance of "The Carnival of Venice" on the RCA Victor LP "A Sunday Band Concert".[6]

All-Star Concert Band[edit]

In 1960 he co-founded The All-Star Concert Band with American tubist Harvey Phillips. The band recorded two LPs under the Golden Crest label. The first, titled "The All-Star Concert Band" was recorded September 17–18, 1960 at the Huntington Theatre, Huntington, New York. The second LP titled "The Burke-Phillips All-Star Concert Band" was recorded a year later.

Awards[edit]

  • National Champion, 1939 National Trumpet Competition[7]
  • New York Brass Conference For Scholarships
  • Associated Musicians of Greater New York Local 802
  • Port Jefferson High School Wall of Fame

Death[edit]

On June 26, 1981 Jimmy suffered a massive heart attack while conducting a rehearsal of The Guggenheim Memorial Band, the successor to The Goldman Band.[1]

Discography[edit]

Solo Recordings

Artist Workshop Series

With The Goldman Band

With Leroy Anderson

With Archie Bleyer

With Robert Russell Bennett

With Paul Lavalle

With Morton Gould

With Robert Shaw

With Igor Stravinsky

With Andre Kostelanetz (see notes)

With Thomas Schippers

  • (Unknown - See notes)

With Leopold Stokowski

  • (Unknown - See notes)
  • Notes - According to his self published resume, James F. Burke played on "many recordings conducted by Stokowski, Morton Gould, Andre Kostelanetz and Thomas Schippers". In the early days of recordings, musicians rarely (if ever) received credit in the liner notes of album jackets so it is unknown for certain on which albums Mr. Burke performed. In the case of Morton Gould, credit was given to musicians on the album jacket. In the case of Andre Kostelanetz, his overall discography suggests that the two albums listed are where Jimmy would most likely have been contracted to perform.

Broadway shows[edit]

Television shows[edit]

Faculty positions[edit]

Published works[edit]

Cornet/trumpet solos

  • The Runaway Trumpet (1952) Mercury Music Corporation (www.presser.com)[41]
  • Hocus Polka (1952) Mercury Music Corporation(www.presser.com)[41]
  • Prom Waltz (1952) Mercury Music Corporation(www.presser.com)[41]
  • Serenade In 6/8 (1952) Mercury Music Corporation(www.presser.com)[41]
  • Strictly GI (1952) Mercury Music Corporation(www.presser.com)[41]
  • Twilight Tune (1952) Mercury Music Corporation(www.presser.com)[41]
  • The Magic Trumpet (1955) Carl Fischer[42][43]
  • Begine (1956) Chas. Colin[44]
  • Caprice (1956) Chas. Colin[44]
  • Joneta (1956) Chas. Colin[44]
  • Amourette (1959) Carl Fischer[42][45]
  • Danza Allegre (1960) Carl Fischer[42][46]
  • Jolene (1963) Chas. Colin[44]
  • Jimala Beguine (1964) Carl Fischer[42][47]

Method book

  • New Directions In Tonguing (1956) Chas. Colin[39]

Unpublished works[edit]

  • Eventide
  • Zorita (1968)[48]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "James Burke, Cornetist, Dies; Soloist With Goldman Band". The New York Times. 1981-07-01. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  2. ^ a b "Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Trumpet Section - View topic: Trumpet Herald forum". TrumpetHerald.com.
  3. ^ "Birth Brachial Plexus Injury". gillettechildrens.org.
  4. ^ "Edwin Franko Goldman | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". Wnyc.org.
  5. ^ a b "Peabody Notes". cdm16613.contentdm.oclc.org.
  6. ^ a b "Cities Service Band Of America Conducted By Paul Lavalle – Sunday Band Concert (1953, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1953.
  7. ^ James F. Burke With Admiration By Raymond Crisara (Page 1)
  8. ^ "Burke, James - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  9. ^ "The All-Star Concert Band – The All-Star Concert Band (1961, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1961.
  10. ^ "The Burke-Phillips All-Star Concert Band – Burke-Phillips All-Star Concert Band Vol. II (Gate, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 5 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Edwin Franko Goldman, The Goldman Band – Marches (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 9 October 2017.
  12. ^ "The Goldman Band, Edwin Franko Goldman - Sousa-Goldman Marches". Discogs. 1949.
  13. ^ "Decca DL-5386 (12-in. long-playing (monaural)) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  14. ^ "The Goldman Band – America Marches (1955, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1955.
  15. ^ "Decca DL-5546 (12-in. long-playing (monaural)) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  16. ^ "Decca DL-8185 (12-in. long-playing (monaural)) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  17. ^ "Edwin Franko Goldman Band – I Love To Hear A Band (1957, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1957.
  18. ^ "The Goldman Band, Edwin Franko Goldman – Semper Fidelis: The Marches Of John Philip Sousa (1957, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1957.
  19. ^ "The Goldman Band, Richard Franko Goldman – Band Masterpieces (1958, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1958.
  20. ^ "The Goldman Band, Richard Franko Goldman – The Sound Of The Goldman Band (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 7 February 2020.
  21. ^ "The Goldman Band - Golden March Favorites". Discogs. 1960.
  22. ^ "Richard Franko Goldman, John Philip Sousa, The Goldman Band - Sousa Marches In Hi-Fi". Discogs. 1960.
  23. ^ "The Goldman Band Conducted By Richard Franko Goldman – Cavalcade Of The American Band (1962, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1962.
  24. ^ "The Goldman Band - Marching Along Together". Discogs. 8 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Leroy Anderson - Leroy Anderson Conducts His Music". Discogs. 1960.
  26. ^ "Leroy Anderson - Leroy Anderson Conducts Leroy Anderson". Discogs. 1959.
  27. ^ "Archie Bleyer – Hernando's Hideaway / S'il Vous Plait (1954, Shellac)". Discogs.com. May 1954.
  28. ^ "Richard Rodgers / Robert Russell Bennett / NBC Symphony Orchestra - Victory At Sea". Discogs.com. 1953.
  29. ^ "Cities Service Band Of America, Paul Lavalle - America's Favorite Marches". Discogs.com. 1952.
  30. ^ "Cities Service Band Of America – The Carnival Of Venice / Spirit Of Freedom March (1953, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1953.
  31. ^ "Paul Lavalle With Cities Service Band Of America – Lavalle At Work (1954, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1954.
  32. ^ "Paul Lavalle And The Cities Service Band Of America – Great Band Music (1955, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1955.
  33. ^ "Morton Gould Conducting The Columbia Concert Band – Hi-Fi Band Concert (1956, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1956.
  34. ^ "Morton Gould - Brass & Percussion". Discogs. 1957.
  35. ^ "Morton Gould, The Columbia Concert Band – The Band Plays On (1954, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1954.
  36. ^ "Bach, Robert Shaw Chorale And Orchestra – Bach B Minor Mass (1999, CD)". Discogs.com. 1999.
  37. ^ "The New Andre Kostelanetz* - Wonderland Of Sound - Star Spangled Marches". Discogs.com. 1962.
  38. ^ "Andre Kostelanetz*, John Philip Sousa - The Thunderer: The Spectacular Sound Of John Philip Sousa". Discogs.com. 1965.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "New Directions in Tonguing". Charlescolin.com.
  40. ^ "Frank Martignetti, PhD". bridgeport.edu.
  41. ^ a b c d e f "Customer Service". Presser.com.
  42. ^ a b c d "Carl Fischer | Helping Educators and Musicians Shine Since 1872". Carlfischer.com.
  43. ^ "The Magic Trumpet by Ja | J.W. Pepper Sheet Music". Jwpepper.com.
  44. ^ a b c d "New Directions in Tonguing". Charlescolin.com.
  45. ^ "Amourette by BURKE / LEIDZEN| J.W. Pepper Sheet Music". Jwpepper.com.
  46. ^ "Danza Allegre by BURKE| J.W. Pepper Sheet Music". Jwpepper.com.
  47. ^ "Jimala Beguine by BURKE| J.W. Pepper Sheet Music". Jwpepper.com.
  48. ^ Bennett, Wayne (2013). James Francis Burke's Zorita (c. 1968): A Transcribed Edition for Solo Cornet and Brass Quintet. University of North Carolina at Greensboro – via ProQuest.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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