Gene Patrick "Corky" Corcoran (July 28, 1924 – October 3, 1979) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

tenor saxophonist.

Early life

Corcoran was born in

Tacoma, Washington Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, southwest of Bellevue, Washington, Bellevue, northeast of the state capital, Olympia ...

. Considered a child prodigy, he began performing in bands at the age of 16.

Career

Corcoran first played professionally in 1940 with

Sonny Dunham Elmer "Sonny" Dunham (November 16, 1911 – July 9, 1990) was an American trumpet player and bandleader. A versatile musician, he was one of the few trumpet players who could double on the trombone with equal skill. Biography Born in Brockton ...

, then joined

Harry James Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band to great commercial success from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947, but ...

's ensemble for from 1941 to 1947. He left James for a short time, playing with his own ensemble and working briefly in

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

's band before rejoining James in 1949. He continued to work with James until 1957, and also played concurrently with his own ensembles. In 1962, he once again began working with James, an association that would continue almost to Corcoran's death.

Personal life

Corcoran died in Tacoma.

References

;Footnotes ;General references *Warren Vache Sr., "Corky Corcoran". '' The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2nd edition, ed.

Barry Kernfeld Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians. Education In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Corcoran, Corky 1924 births 1979 deaths American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists Musicians from Washington (state) 20th-century American saxophonists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians