Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco (February 17, 1923 – December 24, 2014) was an Italian-American jazz clarinetist. In addition to his work as a bandleader, DeFranco led the

Glenn Miller Orchestra Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was an American swing dance band formed by Glenn Miller in 1938. Arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, and three other saxophones playing harmony, the band became the most popular and com ...

for almost a decade in the 1960s and 1970s.

Biography

Born in

Camden, New Jersey Camden is a city in and the county seat of Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Camden is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan area and is located directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the 20 ...

, United States, DeFranco was raised in South Philadelphia. He was playing the clarinet by the time he was nine years old and within five years had won a national

Tommy Dorsey Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombo ...

swing contest. He began his professional career just as

swing music Swing music is a style of jazz that developed in the United States during the late 1920s and early 1930s. It became nationally popular from the mid-1930s. The name derived from its emphasis on the off-beat, or nominally weaker beat. Swing bands ...

and

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s ...

s—many of which were led by clarinetists like

Artie Shaw Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction. Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists", Shaw led ...

, and

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His conc ...

—were in decline. While most jazz clarinet players did not adapt to this change, DeFranco successfully continued to play clarinet exclusively, and was one of the few

bebop Bebop or bop is a style of jazz developed in the early-to-mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerous changes of key, instrumen ...

clarinetists. In 1950, DeFranco spent a year with

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

's septet. He then led a small combo in the early 1950s which included pianist Sonny Clark and guitarist

Tal Farlow Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998) was an American jazz guitarist. He was nicknamed "Octopus" because of how his large, quick hands spread over the fretboard. As Steve Rochinski notes, "Of all the guitarists to emerge in th ...

. In this period, DeFranco recorded for MGM, Norgran and Verve; the latter two labels were owned by

Norman Granz Norman Granz (August 6, 1918 – November 22, 2001) was an American jazz record producer and concert promoter. He founded the record labels Clef, Norgran, Down Home, Verve, and Pablo. Granz was acknowledged as "the most successful impres ...

. During the years 1960-64, DeFranco released four innovative quartet albums, as co-leader with the accordionist Tommy Gumina. He was

bandleader A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a rock or pop band or jazz quartet. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues o ...

of the

from 1966 to 1974, under the name, "The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, Directed By Buddy DeFranco". He also performed with Gene Krupa, Art Blakey, Tommy Dorsey,

Charlie Barnet Charles Daly Barnet (October 26, 1913 – September 4, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His major recordings were "Skyliner", " Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffl ...

Art Tatum Arthur Tatum Jr. (, October 13, 1909 – November 5, 1956) was an American jazz pianist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest in his field. From early in his career, Tatum's technical ability was regarded by fellow musicians as extraord ...

Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian virtuoso jazz pianist and composer. Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, ...

, Lennie Tristano, Dodo Marmarosa,

Terry Gibbs Terry Gibbs (born Julius Gubenko; October 13, 1924) is an American jazz vibraphonist and band leader. He has performed or recorded with Tommy Dorsey, Chubby Jackson,Theroux, Gary"Gibbs, Terry".''Grove Music Online''. Oxford University Press. R ...

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but a ...

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

, Eddie Daniels,

Putte Wickman Putte Wickman (10 September 1924 – 14 February 2006) was a Swedish jazz clarinetist. Career He was born Hans Olof Wickman in Falun, and grew up in Borlänge, Sweden, where his parents hoped he would become a lawyer. He nagged them to allow hi ...

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop s ...

and many others, and released dozens of albums as a leader. DeFranco died in Panama City, Florida, at the age of 91.

Awards and honors

DeFranco won twenty awards from ''

DownBeat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Ch ...

'' magazine, nine awards from ''

Metronome A metronome, from ancient Greek μέτρον (''métron'', "measure") and νομός (nomós, "custom", "melody") is a device that produces an audible click or other sound at a regular interval that can be set by the user, typically in beats pe ...

'', and sixteen ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' is an American men's Lifestyle magazine, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from H ...

'' All-Stars awards.

Discography

As leader

* ''The Progressive Mr. DeFranco'' (Norgran, 1954) * ''Pretty Moods'' (Norgran, 1954) * ''The Artistry of Buddy DeFranco'' (Norgran, 1954) * '' Buddy DeFranco and Oscar Peterson Play George Gershwin'' (Norgran, 1954) * ''The Buddy DeFranco Wailers'' (Norgran, 1956) * ''Sweet and Lovely'' (Verve, 1956) * ''In a Mellow Mood'' (Norgran, 1956) * ''Mr. Clarinet'' (Norgran, 1956) * ''Jazz Tones'' (Norgran, 1956) * ''Buddy DeFranco Plays Benny Goodman'' (Verve, 1957) * ''The Art Tatum Buddy DeFranco Quartet'' (Verve, 1958) * ''Cross Country Suite'' (Dot, 1958) * ''Generalissimo'' (Verve, 1958) * ''Buddy DeFranco and the Oscar Peterson Quartet'' (Verve, 1958) * ''Live Date!'' (Verve, 1958) * ''Buddy DeFranco Plays Artie Shaw'' (Verve, 1958) * ''Cooking the Blues'' (Verve, 1958) * ''Bravura'' (Verve, 1959) * ''Pacific Standard Swingin'! Time'' with

Tommy Gumina Thomas Joseph Gumina (May 20, 1931 in Milwaukee – October 28, 2013) was an American jazz accordionist and musical instrument builder. Gumina began playing accordion at age eleven, and took lessons on the instrument in Chicago throughout the s ...

(Decca, 1960) * ''Presenting'' with Tommy Gumina (Mercury, 1961) * ''Kaleidoscope'' with Tommy Gumina (Mercury, 1962) * ''Pol.Y.Tones'' with Tommy Gumina (Mercury, 1963) * ''The Girl from Ipanema'' with Tommy Gumina (Mercury, 1964) * ''

Blues Bag ''Blues Bag'', subtitled ''Leonard Feather's Encyclopedia Of Jazz - Jazz Of The '60s, Vol. 2'', is an album by clarinetist Buddy DeFranco recorded in Los Angeles in late 1964 and released by the Vee-Jay label the following year.Callahan, M. & Edwa ...

'' (Vee Jay, 1965) * ''Crosscurrents'' with Lennie Tristano (Capitol, 1972) * ''Free Sail'' (Choice, 1974) * ''Black Magic'' with Helen Forrest (Shamrock, 1975) * ''Love Affair with a Clarinet Vol. 2'' (Famous Solos, 1976) * ''Sessions, Live'' (Callipe, 1976) * ''Borinquin'' (Sonet, 1976) * ''Waterbed'' (Choice, 1978) * ''Buddy DeFranco with Jim Gillis'' (Classic Jazz, 1978) * ''Closed Session'' (Verve, 1979) * ''Buddy DeFranco'' (Famous Solos, 1980) * ''Like Someone in Love'' (Progressive, 1980) * ''Jazz Party: First Time Together'' with Terry Gibbs (Palo Alto, 1981) * ''Cool & Quiet'' with Lennie Tristano (Capitol, 1982) * ''Eastern Exposure'' (Silver Crest, 1982) * ''Buddy DeFranco Presents John Denman'' (Lud, 1983) * ''Now's the Time'' with Terry Gibbs (Tall Tree, 1984) * ''Mr. Lucky'' (Pablo, 1984) * ''Hark'' with Oscar Peterson (Pablo, 1985) * ''Groovin'' (Hep, 1985) * ''Chicago Fire'' with Terry Gibbs (Contemporary, 1987) * ''Holiday for Swing'' with Terry Gibbs (Contemporary, 1988) * ''Garden of Dreams'' with Martin Taylor (ProJazz, 1988) * ''Memories of You: A Tribute to Benny Goodman'' with Terry Gibbs, Herb Ellis (Contemporary, 1991) * ''Kings of Swing'' with Terry Gibbs, Herb Ellis (Contemporary, 1992) * ''Five Notes of Blues'' (Musidisc, 1992) * ''Modern Clarinets: Museum of Modern Jazz'' (Verve, 1993) * ''The Buenos Aires Concerts'' (Hep, 1995) * ''Free Fall'' (Candid, 1996) * ''You Must Believe in Swing'' with Dave McKenna (Concord Jazz, 1997) * ''Do Nothing Till You Hear from Us!'' with Dave McKenna (Concord Jazz, 1999) * ''The Champs'' with Putte Wickman (Gazell, 1999) * ''Terry Gibbs and Buddy DeFranco Play Steve Allen'' (Contemporary, 1999) * ''Gone with the Wind'' (Storyville, 1999) * ''The Three Sopranos'' (hr-musik.de, 2001) * ''Cookin' the Books'' (Arbors Records, 2003) * ''Charlie Cat 2'' (Arbors, 2007) * ''Cookin with Eiji Kitamura, Kiyoshi Takeshita (Jazz Cook, 2008) * ''Down for Double'' with John Burnett Swing Orchestra (Delmark Records, 2010)

As sideman

With

* ''Yes Indeed!'' (RCA Victor 1956) * ''Tribute to Dorsey, Vol. 2'' (RCA Victor, 1957) * ''Tommy Dorsey's Greatest Band'' (20th Fox, 1959) With

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles ...

* ''The Lionel Hampton Quintet'' (Clef, 1954) * ''Album #2'' (Clef, 1955) * ''Lionel Hampton and His All Stars'' (Columbia, 1957) With others *

, ''Sky Liner'' (MCA, 1976) *

, ''Blues by Basie'' (Columbia, 1956) * Les Brown, ''Jazz Song Book'' (Coral, 1960) *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

, ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern & Johnny Mercer Songbooks'' (Verve, 1976) *

Stan Getz Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre ...

, ''Stan Getz Blues'' (VSP, 1966) *

, ''Ladylove'' (United Artists, 1962) * Billie Holiday, ''Live in Cologne 1954'' (Jazzline, 2014) *

Rolf Kuhn Rolf is a male given name and a surname. It originates in the Germanic name ''Hrolf'', itself a contraction of ''Hrodwulf'' ( Rudolf), a conjunction of the stem words ''hrod'' ("renown") + ''wulf'' ("wolf"). The Old Norse cognate is ''Hrólfr''. A ...

, ''Affairs'' (Intuition, 1997) * Herbie Mann, ''Big Band Mann'' (VSP, 1966) *

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

, ''Chet Baker Gerry Mulligan Buddy DeFranco'' (GNP, 1957) *

Joe Negri Joseph Harold Negri (born June 10, 1926) is an American jazz guitarist and educator. He appeared as himself and as "Handyman Negri" in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe segments on ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood''. He appeared on the 1959 children' ...

, ''Uptown Elegance'' (MCG, 2004) * Flip Phillips, ''Flip Philllips Celebrates His 80th Birthday at the March of Jazz 1995'' (Arbors, 2003) * Tullio De Piscopo, ''Live in Zurich at Moods Club'' (Rai Trade, 2004) *

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, ...

, ''Buddy Rich at JATP'' (VSP, 1966)

References

External links

* * * *
Buddy DeFranco Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2004) {{DEFAULTSORT:Defranco, Buddy 1923 births 2014 deaths American jazz bandleaders American jazz clarinetists American people of Italian descent Bebop clarinetists Musicians from Camden, New Jersey Musicians from Philadelphia Post-bop clarinetists Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania Statesmen of Jazz members Hep Records artists Verve Records artists Contemporary Records artists Mercury Records artists Pablo Records artists Concord Records artists Arbors Records artists