Bobby Hackett: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Hackett was born in [[Providence, Rhode Island]]. He made his name as a follower of the legendary cornet player [[Bix Beiderbecke]]: [[Benny Goodman]] hired him to recreate Bix's famous "I'm Coming Virginia" solo at his (Goodman's) 1938 Carnegie Hall concert.<ref>Bobby Hackett was influenced by Bix Beiderbecke: "Bix's playing touched a number of outstanding trumpet players including Bobby Hackett, Red Nichols, Bunny Berigan, Jimmy McPartland and Rex Stewart." from http://www.redhotjazz.com/coolarticle.html author Len Weinstock.</ref> In the late 1930s Hackett played lead trumpet in the [[Vic Schoen]] Orchestra which backed the [[Andrews Sisters]]. Bobby Hackett can be heard on the soundtrack to the 1940 [[Fred Astaire]] movie [[Second Chorus]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.landing.com/ |title=Bobby Hackett |
Hackett was born in [[Providence, Rhode Island]]. He made his name as a follower of the legendary cornet player [[Bix Beiderbecke]]: [[Benny Goodman]] hired him to recreate Bix's famous "I'm Coming Virginia" solo at his (Goodman's) 1938 Carnegie Hall concert.<ref>Bobby Hackett was influenced by Bix Beiderbecke: "Bix's playing touched a number of outstanding trumpet players including Bobby Hackett, Red Nichols, Bunny Berigan, Jimmy McPartland, and Rex Stewart." from http://www.redhotjazz.com/coolarticle.html author Len Weinstock.</ref> In the late 1930s Hackett played lead trumpet in the [[Vic Schoen]] Orchestra which backed the [[Andrews Sisters]]. Bobby Hackett can be heard on the soundtrack to the 1940 [[Fred Astaire]] movie [[Second Chorus]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.landing.com/ |title=Bobby Hackett |
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|publisher=Jim Cullum's Landing|date=Date published unknown }}</ref> In 1939 the talent agency [[MCA Inc.|MCA]] asked Bobby Hackett to form a big band with their backing. Unfortunately the band failed and Hackett was in substantial debt to MCA after it folded. Bobby Hackett joined the bands of [[Horace Heidt]] and then Glenn Miller to pay down this debt.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.libertyhall.com/bobby.html#1940|title=Robert Leo Hackett 'Bobby' |
|publisher=Jim Cullum's Landing|date=Date published unknown }}</ref> In 1939 the talent agency [[MCA Inc.|MCA]] asked Bobby Hackett to form a big band with their backing. Unfortunately the band failed and Hackett was in substantial debt to MCA after it folded. Bobby Hackett joined the bands of [[Horace Heidt]] and then Glenn Miller to pay down this debt.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.libertyhall.com/bobby.html#1940|title=Robert Leo Hackett 'Bobby' |
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|publisher=John Ciccolo|date=11/96}}</ref> |
|publisher=John Ciccolo|date=11/96}}</ref> |
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Sometime in the 1930's, Bobby Hackett married Edna Hackett. He |
Sometime in the 1930's, Bobby Hackett married Edna Hackett. He had two children with her, Barbra Hackett(†) and Ernie Hackett. |
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To make matters worse, his lip was in bad shape after dental surgery, making it difficult for him to play the trumpet or cornet. Glenn Miller came to Hackett's rescue, offering him a job as a guitarist with the Miller Band. "When I joined the band and I was making good money at last, [...] [jazz critics] accused me of selling out. Hell I wasn't selling out, I was selling ''in''! It's funny, isn't it, how you go right into the wastebasket with some critics the minute you become successful".<ref>{{cite book |title=Glenn Miller and His Orchestra|last=Simon |first=George |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1980 |publisher=DaCapo |location=New York |isbn=978-0-306-80129-7 |page=271 |page=496 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=DvLC5_RJS0MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Glenn+Miller+and+His+ORchestra&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false }}</ref> Despite his lip problems, Hackett could still play occasional short solos, and he can be heard playing a famous one with the [[Glenn Miller Orchestra]] on "A String of Pearls."<ref>"Hackett refers to this solo as 'just a little exercise'" Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, 269</ref> A dream come true for Hackett was his inclusion in Louis Armstrong's 1947 Town Hall Jazz Concert.<ref>"Bobby was musical director for, and performed in, Louis Armstrong's acclaimed May 1947 NYC Town Hall Concert." see "Robert Leo Hackett 'Bobby'" at http://www.libertyhall.com/bobby.html author John Ciccolo</ref> During the 1950s, he made a series of albums of ballads with a full string orchestra, produced by [[Jackie Gleason]], exhibiting a dreamy, vibrato-free sound.<ref>Since Jackie Gleason was a famous television celebrity at the time, Capitol records implied that he conducted these sessions as a tie in. When asked by musician/journalist Harry Currie in Toronto just weeks before Hackett's death what Gleason really did at the recording session, Hackett replied "He brought the cheques."<sub></sub></ref> |
To make matters worse, his lip was in bad shape after dental surgery, making it difficult for him to play the trumpet or cornet. Glenn Miller came to Hackett's rescue, offering him a job as a guitarist with the Miller Band. "When I joined the band and I was making good money at last, [...] [jazz critics] accused me of selling out. Hell I wasn't selling out, I was selling ''in''! It's funny, isn't it, how you go right into the wastebasket with some critics the minute you become successful".<ref>{{cite book |title=Glenn Miller and His Orchestra|last=Simon |first=George |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1980 |publisher=DaCapo |location=New York |isbn=978-0-306-80129-7 |page=271 |page=496 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=DvLC5_RJS0MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Glenn+Miller+and+His+ORchestra&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false }}</ref> Despite his lip problems, Hackett could still play occasional short solos, and he can be heard playing a famous one with the [[Glenn Miller Orchestra]] on "A String of Pearls."<ref>"Hackett refers to this solo as 'just a little exercise'" Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, 269</ref> A dream come true for Hackett was his inclusion in Louis Armstrong's 1947 Town Hall Jazz Concert.<ref>"Bobby was musical director for, and performed in, Louis Armstrong's acclaimed May 1947 NYC Town Hall Concert." see "Robert Leo Hackett 'Bobby'" at http://www.libertyhall.com/bobby.html author John Ciccolo</ref> During the 1950s, he made a series of albums of ballads with a full string orchestra, produced by [[Jackie Gleason]], exhibiting a dreamy, vibrato-free sound.<ref>Since Jackie Gleason was a famous television celebrity at the time, Capitol records implied that he conducted these sessions as a tie in. When asked by musician/journalist Harry Currie in Toronto just weeks before Hackett's death what Gleason really did at the recording session, Hackett replied "He brought the cheques."<sub></sub></ref> |
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Revision as of 17:49, 12 July 2011
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2011) |
Bobby Hackett |
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Photography by William P. Gottlieb.
Robert Leo "Bobby" Hackett (January 31, 1915 – June 7, 1976) was an US jazz musician who played trumpet, cornet and guitar with the bands of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman in the late thirties and early forties.
Biography
Hackett was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He made his name as a follower of the legendary cornet player Bix Beiderbecke: Benny Goodman hired him to recreate Bix's famous "I'm Coming Virginia" solo at his (Goodman's) 1938 Carnegie Hall concert.[1] In the late 1930s Hackett played lead trumpet in the Vic Schoen Orchestra which backed the Andrews Sisters. Bobby Hackett can be heard on the soundtrack to the 1940 Fred Astaire movie Second Chorus.[2] In 1939 the talent agency MCA asked Bobby Hackett to form a big band with their backing. Unfortunately the band failed and Hackett was in substantial debt to MCA after it folded. Bobby Hackett joined the bands of Horace Heidt and then Glenn Miller to pay down this debt.[3]
Sometime in the 1930's, Bobby Hackett married Edna Hackett. He had two children with her, Barbra Hackett(†) and Ernie Hackett.
To make matters worse, his lip was in bad shape after dental surgery, making it difficult for him to play the trumpet or cornet. Glenn Miller came to Hackett's rescue, offering him a job as a guitarist with the Miller Band. "When I joined the band and I was making good money at last, [...] [jazz critics] accused me of selling out. Hell I wasn't selling out, I was selling in! It's funny, isn't it, how you go right into the wastebasket with some critics the minute you become successful".[4] Despite his lip problems, Hackett could still play occasional short solos, and he can be heard playing a famous one with the Glenn Miller Orchestra on "A String of Pearls."[5] A dream come true for Hackett was his inclusion in Louis Armstrong's 1947 Town Hall Jazz Concert.[6] During the 1950s, he made a series of albums of ballads with a full string orchestra, produced by Jackie Gleason, exhibiting a dreamy, vibrato-free sound.[7]
In 1954, Hackett appeared as a regular on the short-lived ABC variety show, The Martha Wright Show, also known as The Packard Showroom.[8] In 1965, he toured with singer Tony Bennett. In 1966 and 1967 Hackett accompanied Bennett on two European tours.[9] In the early 1970s, Hackett performed separately with Dizzy Gillespie and Teresa Brewer.[10] In his later years, he continued to perform in a dixieland style even as trends in jazz changed.
Hackett was a smoker. His smoking often led to health problems. The next night, he died. A day after checking out of the hospital and playing his final show, Bobby Hackett died June 7, 1976 from a heart attack.
His legacy as a trumphet player lives on. His great-grandson lives in NY, and currently plays the trumphet.
Partial Discography
As leader:
- *1973: Giants (Perception Records, with Dizzy Gillespie)
- Thanks Bobby, Bobby Hackett Quartet, Dobre Records
As sideman:
- With Glenn Miller
- A String of Pearls1941, Bluebird records.
- Rhapsody In Blue 1942, Victor records.
With George Wein
- Wein, Women and Song and More, George Wein Plays and Sings (Arbors Records)
With Tony Bennett
- A Time for Love (1966)
References
- ^ Bobby Hackett was influenced by Bix Beiderbecke: "Bix's playing touched a number of outstanding trumpet players including Bobby Hackett, Red Nichols, Bunny Berigan, Jimmy McPartland, and Rex Stewart." from http://www.redhotjazz.com/coolarticle.html author Len Weinstock.
- ^ "Bobby Hackett". Jim Cullum's Landing. Date published unknown.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Robert Leo Hackett 'Bobby'". John Ciccolo. 11/96.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Simon, George (1980). Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. New York: DaCapo. p. 496. ISBN 978-0-306-80129-7.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Hackett refers to this solo as 'just a little exercise'" Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, 269
- ^ "Bobby was musical director for, and performed in, Louis Armstrong's acclaimed May 1947 NYC Town Hall Concert." see "Robert Leo Hackett 'Bobby'" at http://www.libertyhall.com/bobby.html author John Ciccolo
- ^ Since Jackie Gleason was a famous television celebrity at the time, Capitol records implied that he conducted these sessions as a tie in. When asked by musician/journalist Harry Currie in Toronto just weeks before Hackett's death what Gleason really did at the recording session, Hackett replied "He brought the cheques."
- ^ Alex McNeil, Total Television, p. 639
- ^ Jim Cullum's Landing
- ^ Jim Cullum's Landing
External links
- Template:Solid
- "Bobby Hackett: Accomplished musician with a beautiful sound". Retrieved 2006-04-12.
- audio Bobby Hackett, His Life and Music, retrieved 2008-10-18
- "Bobby Hackett:1915-1976". Retrieved 2010-10-10.