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Buddy Morrow

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Buddy Morrow
Buddy Morrow, ca. May 1947. Photograph by William P. Gottlieb
Buddy Morrow, ca. May 1947.
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Birth nameMuni Zudekoff
Also known asMoe Zudekoff
Buddy Morrow
Born(1919-02-08)February 8, 1919
DiedSeptember 27, 2010(2010-09-27) (aged 91)
GenresSwing music
Big band
Rhythm & Blues
Occupation(s)Bandleader, Musician, Arranger, Composer
InstrumentTrombone
Years active1933-2010
LabelsRCA Victor, Mercury Records

Buddy Morrow (born Muni Zudekoff, aka Moe Zudekoff; February 8, 1919, New Haven, Connecticut – September 27, 2010)[1] 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.

His life

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. 23 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1953.[2] In 1959 and 1960 Morrow's Orchestra released two albums of American television theme songs; Impact and Double Impact respectively.

In 2009, Morrow was awarded the International Trombone Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, an award that is given to a person who has significantly changed trombone playing around the world.

Morrow led the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 1977 through September 24, 2010, when he appeared with the band for the final time.[3] Morrow died in the morning on September 27, 2010.[4][5]

Early days

On a scholarship at age 16, Morrow studied trombone with Ernest Horatio Clarke (1865–1947) at Juilliard (known then as the Institute of Musical Art) from October to December 1936.[6] At age 17, he began playing trombone with Sharkey Bonano's Sharks Of Rhythm, an Eddie Condon group, recording compositions:

  1. Mudhole Blues by Sharkey Bonano and Irving Fazola, Vocalion Records, 3353 (Oct 7, 1936)
  2. Swing In Swing Out, by David Winstein, Vocalion Records, 3353 (Oct 7, 1936)
  3. I'm Satisfied Withi My Gal, by Sharkey Bonano, Vocalion Records, 3380 (Oct 7, 1936)
  4. High Society, by A.J. Piron, Clarence Williams, Porter Steele, Vocalion Records, 3380 (Oct 7, 1936)
  5. When You're Smiling, by Fisher, Joe Goodwin, & Larry Shay, Vocalion Records, 3400 (Dec 4, 1936)
  6. Mr. Brown Goes to Town, by David Winstein, Vocalion Records, 3400 (Dec 4, 1936)
  7. Was It Clean?, by Sharkey Bonano, Vocalion Records, 3410 (Dec 4, 1936)
  8. Blowing Off Steam, by David Winstein, Vocalion Records, 3410 (Dec 4, 1936)
  9. Big Boy Blue, by Peter Tincturin, Jack Lawrence, Dan Howell, Vocalion Records, 3450 (Jan 29, 1937)
  10. Old Fashioned Swing, by Winston Tharp & Joe Bishop, Vocalion Records, 3450 (Jan 29, 1937)
  11. Swing Like a Rusty Gate, by David Winstein, Vocalion Records, 3470 (Jan 29, 1937)
  12. Swingin' On The Swanee Shore, by Dave Cavanaugh, Don Redman, David, Vocalion Records, 3470 (Jan 29, 1937)

He then moved on to big bands, first Eddie Duchin, then Vincent Lopez. He eventually graduated to swing bands, first with Artie Shaw. He first became Muni Morrow, then Buddy Morrow, when he joined the Tommy Dorsey trombone section in 1938. In 1939, he performed with Paul Whiteman's Concert Orchestra for their Decca/Brunswick recording of Gershwin's Concerto in F.

In 1940, Morrow joined his former Shaw bandmate Tony Pastor and his band for a little while, but this was only a short detour on his way to replacing Ray Conniff in the Bob Crosby band. Shortly after, he joined the US Navy, during which he recorded with Billy Butterfield leading a ten-piece band with three trombones — all accompanying Red McKenzie singing four arrangements, including "Sweet Lorraine" and "It's the talk of the Town."

After demobilization, Morrow joined Jimmy Dorsey's band, then went into radio freelancing as a studio musician. He began conducting odd sessions, which introduced him to bandleading. RCA Victor sponsored him as director of his own band in 1951. The band's first hit — "Night Train" by Jimmy Forrest — was a crossover into rhythm and blues.[7]

Selected compositions

  • Big Beat, music by Buddy Morrow, (©1953)
  • Boogie Woogie March, words & music by Buddy Morrow & Herbert Hendler (1918–2007) (©1951)
  • Corrine Corina, w Herbert Hendler (1918–2007), music by Buddy Morrow (©1953)
  • Dear Mary, words by Herbert Hendler (1918–2007), music by Buddy Morrow (©1951)
  • Diggin', words by Herbert Hendler (1918–2007), music by Buddy Morrow (©1953)
  • Memphis Drag, music by Buddy Morrow (©1953)
  • Midnight March, music by Bill Allen & Buddy Morrow (©1957)
  • Old Potato Farm, words & music by Herbert Hendler (1918–2007), Tommie McLeston Hendler & Buddy Morrow (©1951)
  • Scrub-a-dub-dub, music by Howard Biggs & Buddy Morrow (©1955)
  • Solo; A Fox-Trot Bolero Based on Chopin's Waltz in C-sharp minor, words by Herbert Hendler (1918–2007), music by Buddy Morrow (©1951)
  • Teen Polka, arranged by Buddy Morrow & Walter Stuart (©1956)

Selected discography

  • Buddy Morrow, his Trombone, and His Orchestra – A Big Band Buddy: Studio and Live Recordings, 1945–1957, Jasmine Records (2004)
  • Buddy Morrow On RCA CD (recorded Sept 28, 1950 - Dec 22, 1953), digitally remastered by Dennis C. Ferrante, BMG Studios, New York (liner notes by Robert W. Rice)
  1. Strangers
  2. Autumn Leaves
  3. Rio Rita
  4. Shadow Waltz
  5. The Happiest Day of My Life
  6. Silver Moon
  7. Rose, Rose, I Love You
  8. (What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry?
  9. Everything I Have Is Yours
  10. Shanghai
  11. Good Morning Mister Echo
  12. That Old Black Magic
  13. Lassus Trombone
  14. Night Train
  15. One Mint Julep
  16. Stairway to the Stars
  17. Greyhound
  18. I Don't Know
  19. I Can't Get Started
  20. Train, Train, Train
  21. Corrine, Corrina
  22. Dragnet
  23. Re-Enlistment Blues
  24. A Hundred Years from Today
  25. Tara's Theme
  26. Infinite Sadness
  • Buddy Morrow & His Orchestra - Tribute To A Sentimental Gentleman (Tommy Dorsey) Mercury-Wing MGW 12105, Australia
  • Buddy Morrow — A Salute To The Fabulous Dorseys Universal Recorders, Chicago (1955)
  • Buddy Morrow — Music For Dancing Feet (recorded in New York City, Dec. 20, 1955) Universal Recorders, Chicago (1955)
  • Buddy Morrow and His Golden Trombone, Universal Recorders, Chicago (1956)
  • Big Band Beatlemania (the big hits of 1964) (LP), Epic (196-?)
  • Big band guitar (LP), RCA Victor (1959)
  • Impact (LP), RCA Victor (1959) (American television themes)
  • Double Impact (LP), RCA Victor (1959) (American television themes)
  • Poe For Moderns (LP), RCA Victor (1960)
  • Swingin’ Through the Night, Bluebird Records, distributed by BMG Music (2002)
  • Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra, Hindsight Records, Burbank, CA (1980)
  • Swing the Sinatra Way, Walt Andrus, Buddy Morrow (CD) Hindsight Records (Dec 22, 1998)

As sideman

With Gato Barbieri

With Count Basie

References

Inline citations

  1. ^ Steve Voce, Buddy Morrow: Trombonist and bandleader who shot to fame with the Fifties hit "Night Train", The Independent, Sept. 30, 2010
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 380. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ "Buddy Morrow dies at 91; trombonist". Los Angeles Times. October 4, 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  4. ^ Steve Voce, Obituary: Buddy Morrow: Trombonist and bandleader who shot to fame with the Fifties hit "Night Train", The Independent, Sept. 30, 2010
  5. ^ Deaths in Central Florida: Muni B. Morrow, Orlando Sentinel, Sept 30, 2010
  6. ^ Alumni Records, The Juilliard School
  7. ^ Arthur Jackson, The Last of the Big Bands of the 1950s: Buddy Morrow & Ralph Marterie, In Tune Magazine, Issue 109 (Feb. 2001)

Obituaries

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