The Best Damn Trumpet Player: Memories of the Big Band Era and Beyond - Softcover

Grudens, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1575790114 ISBN 13: 9781575790114

Publisher: Celebrity Profiles Inc, 1996

Synopsis

A collection of interviews chronicles the lives of some of the principal participants in and successors to the Big Band Era

About this title

About the Author:

Richard Grudens, designated "The music historian of our time. Without him, the magic would be lost forever." by Kathryn Crosby, was influenced by playwright Robert Anderson, comedy author Will Cuppy, and mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, all whom he knew. He has written hundreds of articles on the music of the Big Band Era and has interviewed almost every important participant of that golden musical time. He was a newswriter for NBC News after his stint as a studio page and broadcast ticket manager. His articles in World War II Magazine are legendary and included stories on Bob Hope, Henry Ford,Oskar Schindler, and Gene Autry ( for Wild West Magazine) Richard's recent book, "Jerry Vale-A Singer's Life" is heading for a third printing. His other books include The Song Stars, about the girl singers(1997) The Music Men-about the men singers (1998), Jukebox Saturday Night, about bandleaders and other musical performers including Les Brown and Artie Shaw, (1999), "Snootie Little Cutie - The Connie Haines Story" (2000) and the upcoming "The Spirit of Bob Hope - One Hundred Years - One Million Laughs"

Review:

"... fascinating collection of Big Band profiles caught backstage, on-stage, at rehearsal, in dressing rooms, band busses, and radio stations." -- Many, by Anthony DiFlorio III

"...a Valentine to those musicians who made musical history long before the emergence of rock and roll. -- The Society of Singers Newsleter

"Grudens has gathered together his treasury of in-person conversations, producing a very interesting behind-the-scenes book. Great photographs." -- Big Band Jump Newsletter

A book about Big Band musical personalities caught backstage, on-stage, at rehearsal, in dressing rooms, in back seats of automobiles, in band buses, radio stations, night clubs, and local park outdoor stages, and high schools. Richard Grudens has asked the right questions of these formidable stalwart performers of the past and present.

His interviews with Harry James, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Billy Eckstine, and Buddy Rich are rare gems mostly because these personalities, at this particular time of their lives, resisted interviews and personal studies for one reason or another. Others like Frankie Laine, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Tony Bennett, and Sarah Vaughan, were willing and gracious hosts who revealed valuable information for future historians of the genre to ponder.

All were gracious about Grudens' momentary participation in their lives: Perry Como, Patty Andrews, Buddy Morrow, Johnny Mince, Kay Starr, Margaret Whiting, Dizzy Gillespie, William B. Williams, Warren Covington, Larry Elgart, Arvell Shaw, Helen O'Connell, Budd Johnson, and Fran Warren, were happy to pass on the story of their musical success to us all.

And there is the new guy on the block, young Tom Postilio, to whom the future of this part of the music business belongs.

These interviews took place from 1980 to 1993 and appeared in various publications during that period.

Each interview and encounter was expertly and charmingly photographed by former news photographer, Camille Smith who was able to catch each subject in his own special way, and some captured on film by Grudens' longtime friend, Gus Young.

Richard Grudens enriches our knowledge of the participants of great band era and the succeeding vocalists through the comments of those who lived it. -- From the Publisher

A completely pleasurable book. A joy to read. The backstage conversations brought back memories. -- Bea Wain, big band singer "My Reverie," Mrs. Andre Baruch

A very fine account about our kind of music. Richard Grudens is a superb interviewer and storyteller. -- Jack Ellsworth, veteran jock - Radio WLIM, Long Island

An impressive book that keeps the Big Band Era and its players alive. Richard Grudens has asked the right questions of these formidable performers of the past and present. -- Don Kennedy, Atlanta's Big Band Syndicated Radio

Congratulations! I enjoyed it. So many interesting and amusing stories told in a very entertaining fashion. -- Margaret Whiting, vocalist

Congratulations. Terrific Job! ....I know what's involved, and I really salute you. -- Pat Boone, entertainer and singer

I enjoyed the book. It is painstakingly researched and engagingly written, a fascinating portrait of Bing's generation and the ones that followed. -- Kathryn Crosby, Mrs. Bing Crosby

About this edition

• Publisher: Celebrity Profiles Inc
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1575790114
• ISBN 13: 9781575790114
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 186