Charlie Kennedy
Birth nameCharles Sumner Kennedy
BornJuly 2, 1927
Staten Island, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 3, 2009 (aged 81)
Ventura, California, U.S.
GenresJazz, big band
InstrumentsAlto saxophone

Charles Sumner Kennedy (July 2, 1927 – April 3, 2009) was an American big band-era alto saxophonist.[1]

Early life

Kennedy was born on Staten Island in New York City.[2]

Career

Kennedy played with Louis Prima's big band orchestra in the 1940s. He performed a solo on that band's 1943 recording of "The White Cliffs of Dover". After a brief stint in his own band, he joined Gene Krupa's big band.

Over the course of his career, he also played with Terry Gibbs's Dream Band, as well as Charlie Ventura, Flip Phillips, Chico O'Farrill, and Bill Holman.

In addition to live performances and recordings with big-name bands, he also was a frequent studio musician. He played in the orchestras for popular movies including My Fair Lady and West Side Story.

Personal life

In the 1970s, for more stable income to support his family with six children, he gave up his career as a full-time musician, but continued to perform in clubs near his home in southern California. He died of pulmonary disease in Ventura, California, at the age of 81.[1]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Terry Gibbs

  • Launching a New Band (Mercury, 1959)
  • More Vibes On Velvet (Mercury, 1959)
  • Swing Is Here! (Verve, 1960)
  • The Exciting Terry Gibbs Big Band (Verve, 1961)
  • Explosion! (Mercury, 1962)
  • Dream Band (Contemporary, 1986)
  • Volume Two The Sundown Sessions (Contemporary, 1987)
  • Flying Home Volume 3 (Contemporary, 1988)
  • The Big Cat Volume 5 (Contemporary, 1991)
  • Main Stem Volume 4 (Contemporary, 2002)
  • One More Time Vol. 6 (Contemporary, 2002)

With Bill Holman

  • In a Jazz Orbit (Andex, 1958)
  • The Fabulous Bill Holman (Coral, 1958)
  • Bill Holman's Great Big Band (Mercury, 1960)

With Gene Krupa

  • Gene Krupa's Sidekicks (Columbia, 1955)
  • Gene Krupa Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements (Verve, 1958)
  • Drummin' Man (Columbia, 1963)

With others

References

  1. 1 2 Thurber, Jon (April 13, 2009). "Charlie Kennedy dies at 81; alto saxophonist played in Gene Krupa's big band". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ Press |, Associated (2009-04-13). "Sax player Charlie Kennedy dies at 81". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2022-06-26.


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