Ralph K. Mullins aka Diz Mullins (born 10 May 1929 in

Tulsa Tulsa ( ) is the second-most-populous city in the state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tul ...

) is an American jazz trumpet player, arranger, composer, and collegiate educator. He grew up in Oklahoma but spent most of his professional career in the

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

area. After years of playing trumpet in Southern California, Mullins is still playing and leads his own band.

Career highlights

Around 1954, Mullins moved to Los Angeles, where he began playing with the Tommy Alexander Band. The jazz musicians he performed with include Dave Wells,

Lanny Morgan Lanny Morgan (born March 30, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa) is an American jazz alto saxophonist chiefly active on the West Coast jazz scene. Morgan was raised in Los Angeles. In the 1950s, he played with Charlie Barnet, Si Zentner, Terry Gibbs, and ...

, Bob Hathaway, and

Don Bagley Donald Neff Bagley (July 18, 1927 – July 26, 2012) was an American jazz bassist. Career Bagley was born on July 18, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received formal training on the double bass. He studied in Los Angeles and played in 1945 ...

. Mullins played trumpet and arranged for four years with Charlie Barnet's Big Band. He also performed with Anita O’Day's Sextet,

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) 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 roo ...

, Sy Zentner,

Russ Morgan Russell Morgan (April 29, 1904 – August 7, 1969) was an American big band leader and arranger during the 1930s and 1940s. He was best known for being one of the composers of the song " You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", with Larry Stock an ...

, and Freddy Martin, with whom he worked a year on a TV show and two years at the

Coconut Grove Coconut Grove, also known colloquially as "The Grove", is an affluent and the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhoods of Miami, neighborhood of Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by North Prospect Driv ...

. Mullins has scored over 400 feature films including '' Rocky I,'' '' II,'' and '' III'', Barbra Streisand's '' A Star Is Born,'' ''Roots,'' the TV mini series, '' The Autobiography of Jane Pitman,'' ''

The Merv Griffin Show ''The Merv Griffin Show'' is an American television talk show starring Merv Griffin. The series had runs on two different networks on NBC (1962–1963) and CBS (1969–1972) but is most known for its run on first-run syndication from 1965 to 1 ...

,'' and ''

The Hollywood Palace ''The Hollywood Palace'' was an hourlong American television variety show broadcast Saturday nights (except September 1967 to January 1968, when it aired on Tuesday nights) on ABC from January 4, 1964, to February 7, 1970. Titled ''The Satur ...

.'' He scored for

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (, March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "List of nicknames of jazz musicians, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, ...

Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccin ...

, recorded with Charlie Barnet's Big Band (five albums) alongside of

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...

Al Porcino Al Porcino (May 14, 1925 – December 31, 2013) was an American lead trumpeter. He was born in New York, United States. Porcino began playing professionally in 1943, and played in many of the big bands of the 1940s and 1950s, including those of Ge ...

, and

Buddy Childers Marion "Buddy" Childers (February 12, 1926 – May 24, 2007) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer and ensemble leader. Childers became famous in 1942 at the age of 16, when Stan Kenton hired him to be the lead trumpet in his band. Biograph ...

. In scoring and performing, he has worked with numerous TV shows including ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

,'' ''

Red Skelton Richard Bernard Skelton (July 18, 1913September 17, 1997) was an American entertainer best known for his national old-time radio, radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program ''The Red Skelto ...

,'' ''

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,'' ''

Andy Griffith Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012) was an American actor, comedian, television producer, singer, and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Known for his Southern drawl, his characters with a folksy ...

,'' '' Matlock,'' ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and four short stories, all of which involve a ...

'', and has also worked with

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...

Dave Grusin Robert David Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, incl ...

Elmer Bernstein Elmer Bernstein ( '; April 4, 1922August 18, 2004) was an American composer and conductor. In a career that spanned over five decades, he composed "some of the most recognizable and memorable themes in Hollywood history", including over 150 orig ...

Educator

Mullins was a member of the Film Scoring Department faculty at the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

from 1996 to 2006. He has also taught at the Dick Grove School of Music.

Formal education

* Studied music, music education, psychology at the

University of Tulsa The University of Tulsa (TU) is a Private university, private research university in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It has a historic affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Church, although it is now nondenominational, and the campus ...

from 1947 to 1951 *

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the ...

, Bachelor of Music Education *

, studied music

Selected discography

As trumpet sideman *

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

, ''Lonely Street,''

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * '' The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee h ...

MGV2040 (1956) : First session: recorded September 24, 1956,

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

: Carleton McBeath,

Conrad Gozzo Conrad Joseph Gozzo (February 6, 1922October 8, 1964) was an American trumpet player. He was a member of the NBC Hollywood staff orchestra at the time of his death. Early life Gozzo was born in New Britain, Connecticut on February 6, 1922, ...

, Ralph Mullins (trumpets); Richard Nash, Dave Wells, Bob Burgess, Ernest Small (trombones); Charlie Barnet (sax, leader), Willie Smith (alto sax); Willis "Bill" Leonard Holman ( Bill Holman's brother) (tenor saxes); Bob Dawes (bari sax); William Miller, Norman Pockrandt, Russ Garcia (pianists); Robert Bain (guitar); Eudice Shapiro, Robert Sushel, Amerigo Rickey Marino, William R. Kurasch, Tibor Zelig, Benny Gill (violins); Allan Harshman, Louis Kievman, Dan Lube (violas); Raphael Ray Kramer (cello); Red Wootten (bass); Bill Richmond (drums); Russ Garcia (arranger) :: 20405-4: "The moon was yellow," arranged by Russ Garcia :: 20406-11: "Myna," arranged by Russ Garcia :: 20407-6: "

You'd be so nice to come home to "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" is a popular song written by Cole Porter for the 1943 film '' Something to Shout About'', where it was introduced by Janet Blair and Don Ameche. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original S ...

," arranged by Russ Garcia :: 20408-10: "Phyllysse," arranged by Russ Garcia : Second session: recorded November 8, 1956,

, Ralph Mullins, Carleton McBeath, Oliver Mitchell (trumpets); Leroy Anderson, Dave Wells, Bob Burgess, Richard Nash (trombones); Charlie Barnet (sax, leader); Willie Smith, Dick Paladino (alto saxes); Bill Holman (tenor sax, arranger), William Trujillo (tenor saxes); Bob Dawes (bari sax); Norman Pockrandt (piano);

Barney Kessel Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups as well as a "first call" gu ...

(guitar); Red Wootten (bass);

Alvin Stoller Alvin Stoller (October 7, 1925 – October 19, 1992) was an American Jazz drumming, jazz drummer. He was best known for playing drums on both Mitch Miller's recording of "The Yellow Rose of Texas (song), The Yellow Rose of Texas" and Stan Fr ...

(drums);

Billy May Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for ''The Green Hornet (TV series), The Green Hornet'' (1966), ''The Mod Squad (TV series), T ...

(arranger) :: 20460-5: "Blue rose," arranged by Bill Holman :: 20461-4: "Lemon twist," arranged by Bill Holman :: 20462-2: "Lumby," arranged by

:: 20463-2: "Hear me talkin' to you," arranged by

: Diz Mullins, Jack Hohlman, Art Depew, Bobby Clark (trumpets); (3 trombonists); Charlie Barnet (sax, leader, arranger); Bob Jung, Bob Dawes (woodwinds); 2 or 3 others (woodwinds); Fred Massey (piano); Don Prell (bass); Don Manning (drums); Lynn Franklin (vocal);

Andy Gibson Albert "Andy" Gibson (November 6, 1913 – February 11, 1961) was an American jazz trumpeter, arranger, and composer. Career Gibson played violin early on before settling on trumpet. Although he played professionally in many orchestras, he did n ...

, Paul Villepigue, Bill Holman,

Neal Hefti Neal Paul Hefti (October 29, 1922 – October 11, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger. He wrote music for '' The Odd Couple'' movie and TV series and for the ''Batman'' TV series. He began arranging professionally in hi ...

Ralph Burns Ralph Joseph P. Burns (June 29, 1922 – November 21, 2001) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts, United States, where he began playing the piano as a child. In 1938, he attend ...

Tiny Kahn Norman "Tiny" Kahn (1923 – August 19, 1953) was an American jazz drummer, arranger, and composer. He was born in New York, United States. Kahn began playing drums at age 15. He played with Boyd Raeburn (1948), Georgie Auld, Chubby Jackson, a ...

Manny Albam Manny Albam (June 24, 1922 – October 2, 2001) was an American jazz arranger, composer, record producer, saxophonist, and educator. Early life A native of the Dominican Republic, Albam grew up in New York City. He was attracted to jazz at an ea ...

(arrangers) : Recorded May 30 thru June 8, 1957, Saltair Ballroom,

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake Ci ...

: KDYL broadcast, June 5, 1957, Saltair Ballroom,

: Russ Garcia added to the preceding personnel * ''Charlie Barnet Orchestra: Record Hop'', (film soundtrack featuring Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra),

Zephyrhills, Florida Zephyrhills is a city in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was counted at 17,194 in the 2020 census. The city is the headquarters of the Zephyrhills (water), Zephyrhills bottled water company. The current mayor is Melonie Monso ...

: Joyce Records LP3001 (1957) () : Diz Mullins (trumpet); Charlie Barnet (sax, leader); Fred Massey (piano);

Tex Williams Sollie Paul "Tex" Williams (August 23, 1917 – October 11, 1985) was an American Western swing musician. He is best known for his talking blues style; his biggest hit was the novelty song, "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)", which held th ...

, Alan Copeland,

Ella Mae Morse Ella Mae Morse (September 12, 1924 – October 16, 1999) was an American singer of popular music whose 1940s and 1950s recordings mixing jazz, blues, and country styles influenced the development of rock and roll. Her 1942 recording of " Cow-Co ...

(vocals);

, Russ Garcia (arrangers); The Lancers (vocal group); others not listed : Recorded October 1957, Hollywood, California *

One Night Stand A one-night stand is a single sexual encounter in which there is no expectation that there shall be any further relations between the sexual participants. It draws its name from the common practice of a one-night stand, a single night performanc ...

, Joyce Records LP1052, 1008 : Diz Mullins,

, Sanford Skinner,

Stu Williamson Stu Williamson (May 14, 1933 – October 1, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter and valve trombonist. Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, Williamson was the younger brother of jazz pianist Claude Williamson. In 1949, he moved to Los Angeles, whe ...

(trumpets); Walt Malzahn, Dave Wells, Frank Lane (trombones); Charlie Barnet (sax, leader); Bob Jung,

(alto sax); Jack Kernan, Dave Madden (tenor saxes); Bob Dawes (bari sax); Buddy Motsinger (piano);

Harry Babasin Yervant Harry Babasin, Jr. (19 March 1921 – 21 May 1988) was an American jazz bassist. His nickname was "The Bear". Biography Babasin was born in Dallas, Texas to an American mother and an Armenian father. He attended North Texas State Universit ...

(bass); Jack Sperling (drums); Lynn Franklin (vocal); Bill Holman (arranger) :

KFI KFI (640 AM) is a radio station in Los Angeles, California, owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc. It began operations in 1922 and became one of the first high-powered, clear-channel Class A stations. It was the first U.S. station west of ...

broadcast, September 5, 1958,

Hollywood Palladium The Hollywood Palladium is a theater (building), theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and ...

As arranger *

Amy Grant Amy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She began her music career in contemporary Christian music (CCM) before crossing over to pop music in the mid-1980s. Grant has been referred to as "Honorific ...

, '' A Christmas to Remember,'' with the Patrick Williams Orchestra,

A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a branch of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Established in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the label initially operated independent ...

(1999) : Mullins contributed to the Los Angeles music preparation (transcribing, scoring) * Horatio,

Capitol Capitol, capitols or The Capitol may refer to: Places and buildings Legislative building * United States Capitol, in Washington, D.C. * National Capitol of Colombia, in Bogotá * Palacio Federal Legislativo, in Caracas, Venezuela * National Ca ...

P-2489 (May 1969) : Side A: "I can't be a cowboy if I can't carry a gun," composed by Joan Mullins & Robert O. Williams, arranged by Ralph Mullins (matrix 45-S-72097-A1) : Side B: "The golden rule" (matrix 45-S-72098-A1)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mullins, Ralph 1929 births Living people American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters Swing trumpeters Musicians from Oklahoma University of Oklahoma alumni University of Southern California faculty 21st-century American trumpeters Jazz musicians from Oklahoma 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians