Randolph E. Brooks (March 28, 1917 – March 21, 1967) 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 ...

trumpeter and

bandleader A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a dance band, 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, rhyth ...

Biography

Brooks began on trumpet at age six, and by the age of 11 was discovered by Rudy Vallee, and appeared on his Fleischman Hour radio show, and became a permanent member where he played thrilling trumpet solos, but was not allowed to play with the brass section of the band. By the time he was eighteen he was working with Jerry Blane for an entire summer in western New Jersey, followed by Gene Kardos and then Ruby Newman at the

Rainbow Room The Rainbow Room is a private event space on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Run by Tishman Speyer, it is among the highest venues in New York City. The Rainbow Room was design ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. He was then hired by

Hal Kemp James Hal Kemp (March 27, 1904 – December 21, 1940) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. Biography Hal Kemp was born in Marion, Alabama. He formed his first band in high school, and by the ...

with whom he cut his first records for the Victor label in 1939. After Kemp's death late in 1940, he stayed with the band when

Art Jarrett Arthur L. Jarrett Jr. (July 20, 1907 – July 23, 1987) was an American singer, bandleader and actor during the 1930s and 1940s. He was the son of stage actor and playwright Arthur L. Jarrett Sr. (1884–1960). Early career Near the end of th ...

took leadership of the group. By June 1942, he had moved on to Claude Thornhill, followed a few months later by Bob Allen, but within a year he was playing with Les Brown, before founding his own band in early 1945. John Benson Brooks (no relation) contributed arrangements to the ensemble, and

Stan Getz Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetski; 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 wis ...

played in it in 1946. Among his hits for

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

were " Tenderly", " Harlem Nocturne", and "The Man With The Horn", but his swing-based style and large ensemble were out of step with the times, and his success eroded toward the end of the decade. Brooks married Ina Ray Hutton and moved to

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, ...

, where he suffered a

stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...

and was unable to continue as a musician. He died at the age of 49 of smoke inhalation in a fire at his

Sanford, Maine Sanford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 21,982 in the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, making it the seventh largest municipality in the state. Situated on the Mousam River, Sanford includes the village ...

, apartment. He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford, Maine, beside his parents.

Discography

78rpm singles (all on
Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, record label * Decca Gold, classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, musical theater record label * Decca Studios, recording facility in West ...
)

*18697: "I'd Do It All Over Again" (v: Billy Usher) / "Land of the Loon" (v: Billy Usher) *18703: "I'm Gonna Love That Guy (Like He's Never Been Loved Before)" (with Marion Hutton) / "No More Toujours L'Amour (Hoya, Hoya)" (with Marion Hutton) *18713: "A Kiss Goodnight" (with

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, 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, phra ...

) / "Benny's Coming Home on Saturday" (with Ella Fitzgerald) *18752: "In the Moon Mist" (v: Billy Usher) / "Don't Let Me Dream" (v: Billy Usher) *18844: "Harlem Nocturne" (with Eddie Caine-alto sax) / "Thunder Rock" *18874: "Without You" (Tres Palabras) (v: Harry Prime) / "Strange Love" (v: Harry Prime) *18897: "Surrender" (v: Harry Prime) / "One Love" (v: Harry Prime) *23869: "After Hours" (with Sammy Price-piano) / "Tippin' In" *23935: "A Night at the Deuces" / "Harlem Nocturne" eissue*24161: "Tenderley" / "Lamplight" (v: Harry Prime) *27205: "Holiday Forever" (Brooks' theme song) / "More Than You Know" *28532: "After Hours" eissue/ "Tippin' In eissue*28533: "The Man With The Horn" / "Somebody Loves Me" *29479: "Thunder Rock" eissue/ "

How High the Moon "How High the Moon" is a jazz standard with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis. It was first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue '' Two for the Show'', where it was sung by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock. In ''Two for th ...

Albums

*''Trumpet Moods'' (Decca DL-5446 0" LP 1952) *''Trumpet Moods'' (Decca DL-8201 2" LP 1956) reissue with four additional tracks

CD compilation

*''The Issued Recordings 1945–1947'' (Jazz Band EBCD-2149, 2000)

References