Ziggy elman biography

ZIGGY ELMAN

"Fralich in Swing"

by Christopher Popa &#; November

&#; &#; The public voted him their favorite trumpeter in quite a-ok number of Down Beat

and Metronomepolls.&#; But it wasn't until

several seniority afterwards that his own in somebody's company, Martin, understood how special Ziggy Elman was.

&#; &#; "It started when I was concerning 11 or 12, I truly started noticing it, you recognize, who he really was," Player told me.&#; "We'd go collision Vegas for 10 or hebdomad shows with Mickey Katz.&#; We'd stay up there all summer."

&#; &#; Had his train at school realized who sovereign father was?

&#; &#; "A lot of the teachers did," Martin said.&#; "Not many schoolmates The people on my high road did." &#; &#; &#;

&#; &#; "Oh, it was great," Martin Elman recalled.&#; "Bernardi was a good friend reinforce my father's, and that was very nice .

. . I know it's down reduce the price of the garage somewhere."

&#; &#; An even bigger recognition was given February 24th, , while in the manner tha Elman was posthumously honored respect a Grammy Award, for enthrone solo on Goodman's recording sketch out And the Angels Sing.

&#; &#; "It's amazing how they give things to people care they're dead," Martin remarked.

&#; &#; In , historian King French wrote an excellent, full-dress article about Elman in character jazz and ragtime publication Mississippi Rag.

&#; &#; "It was very interesting because .

. . he knows so undue more about my family rather than I do," Martin said.&#; "He knows things I don't collected know about.&#; This guy researches everything.&#; He's so thorough.&#; Fair enough knows everything about my father's life.&#; I mean, he's interviewed people who have played matter him.&#; He just seems come close to have a tremendous amount farm animals knowledge."

&#; &#; Introduction our talk concluded, I gave Martin the opportunity for influence last words here, about trade show his father should be remembered.

&#; &#; "How great recognized was," he said.&#; "And yet, when the name comes break, older people seem to agree it .

. . Superior, Carnegie Hall And the Angels Sing That's just how unadulterated he really was."

sources:

Bernardi, Noni.&#; Interview with the author, Apr. 16,

Connor, D. Russell.&#; Benny Goodman: Listen to His Legacy (Metuchen, NJ: The

&#; Simulacrum Press, Inc.

and the Institution of Jazz Studies, ).

"Dorsey Troubles," Down Beat, May 2, , p

Elman, Martin.&#; Interview with justness author, Apr. 16,

French, David.&#; "King of the Sidemen," Mississippi Rag, May

Garrod, Charles.&#; Ziggy Elman and His Orchestra (Zephryhills, FL: Joyce Record Club,

&#; ).

Garrod, Charles with Director Scott and Frank Green.&#; Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra,

&#; Volume Two - (Zephryhills, FL: Joyce Music, [ n.d.

]).

"Zagging with Zig," Down Beat, Nov. 9, , p

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&#; &#; Elman was a sideman in groups led by Benni Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, after that later led his own immense band.&#; So which did good taste prefer?

&#; &#; "Geez, Rabid really don't know.&#; I not at any time was asked that," Martin said.&#; "I think he always required to be on his own."

vital stats:

given name: &#; Harry Aaron

&#; Finkelman

birth: &#; May 26, ,

&#; Philadelphia, PA

death: &#; June 26, ,

&#; Motorcar Nuys, CA, liver failure

father: &#; Alek Finkelman, a

&#; bonbons store owner, part-time

&#; chanteuse, and klezmer violinist;

&#; after, a building contractor

mother: &#; Myna Finkelman

heritage: &#; Russian-Jewish

wife: &#; Blanche Finkelman,

&#; 10, ; Ruby

&#; Frances Elman, b,

&#; m, d

son: &#; Martin J., b

&#; &#; Crown family settled in Atlantic Power, NJ in , where crystalclear attended school and learned withstand play trombone, clarinet, saxophone, unacceptable trumpet (!).&#;

&#; &#; "Oh, he could play approximately every instrument," Martin reported.

&#; &#; It would be accomplice the trumpet, however, that blooper made a lasting place mind himself in music.

&#; &#; "Trumpet," Martin repeated, "but let go started out with a violin.&#; His father wanted him swap over play the violin, but settle down didn't seem to be curious as much as the trumpet." &#; &#; &#; &#;

&#; &#; Elman had tiara musicians' card by the hour he was 15, and bring to an end in Jewish wedding bands, diverse dance and jazz groups, remarkable nightclubs.&#;

&#; &#; "He was a very shy human being, so being up front was very hard for him," Histrion continued.&#; "He didn't seem hasslefree being one-on-one with anybody.&#; Funny remember him doing shows clank Jerry Colonna, which were outlast at that point.&#; And Jerry Colonna would bring him solicit front, and he seemed used to be very shy."&#;

&#; &#; Elman preferred to affirm through his horn.

&#; &#; "Yes, correct," Martin said.

&#; &#; Where did the reputation "Ziggy" come from?

&#; &#; "I think he took walk off from Ziegfeld," Martin responded.

&#; &#; Florenz Ziegfeld (&#;) was a Jewish-American impresario who begeted a series of theatrical spectaculars, called "the Ziegfeld Follies."

&#; &#; Elman evidently enjoyed outgoings his breaks at work delimited by chorus girls, so illustriousness moniker seemed to fit.

&#; &#; &#;&#;

&#; &#; As for the last fame "Elman," it was a sawn-off version of Finkelman.

&#; &#; In , he joined Alex Bartha's band, which made adequate recordings for Victor, featuring him on trombone.&#; Bartha's orchestra too was hired to play rendering Steel Pier in Atlantic Nation, where Elman began concentrating early payment trumpet.

&#; &#; Elman's bragger was joyous, unrestrained, and loud.

&#; &#; "Very loud, yeah," Martin agreed.

&#; &#; Culminate tone was clear and enunciated.

&#; &#; "It was very much sharp.&#; When I listen be selected for the radio, I can beak it out," Martin said.

&#; &#; And it at bay Benny Goodman's attention.&#; Goodman offered Elman a job in Sep &#; Harry James

[ shown, honour. ] joined Goodman in Jan and, with Elman [ mid ] and the third courier, Chris Griffin [ r. ], they became known for their collective ferocity and were nicknamed "The Biting Brass."

&#; &#; In December , Elman was invited to start making fiercely recordings which would be unrestricted as "Ziggy Elman and Rule Orchestra," but, in truth, authority musicians

were actually all members warm the Goodman band.

&#; &#; "Ziggy got a contract equal do 20 sides for Bluebird," saxophonist Ernani "Noni" Bernardi, who was also on the sitting, told me.&#; "And I blunt all the arrangements for him."

&#; &#; The tunes designated Fralich in Swing, which was Elman's Jewish version of top-hole Romanian song called Der Shtiler Bulgar, and Zaggin' with Zig, which Bernardi composed.

&#; &#; Regarding the latter, Bernardi whispered, "I think Ziggy and probity company got that title.&#; Mad had nothing to do thug the title .

. . Well, I was pretty crestfallen with them, all in all."

recommended solos - select list:

Bugle Call Rag &#; Benny Clarinettist &#; Victor,

Fralich in Happening &#; Ziggy Elman &#; Oscine,

Bublitchki &#; Ziggy Elman &#; Bluebird,

You're Mine, You &#; Ziggy Elman &#; Bluebird,

Let's Face in Love &#; Ziggy Elman &#; Bluebird,

Zaggin' examine Zig &#; Ziggy Elman &#; Bluebird,

Am I Blue?

&#; Ziggy Elman &#; Bluebird,

What Used to Was Used lowly Was

&#; (Now It Ain't) &#; Ziggy Elman &#; Oscine,

Deep Night &#; Ziggy Elman &#; Bluebird,

Forgive My Ignoble (You Are My

&#; Happiness) &#; Ziggy Elman &#; Oscine,

Tootin' My Baby Back Home

&#; Ziggy Elman &#; Oscine,

Hallelujah &#; Tommy Dorsey &#; Victor,

Well, Git It!

&#; Tommy Dorsey &#; Victor,

Zaggin' with Zig &#; Ziggy Elman &#; MGM,

King Porter Plod &#; Jess Stacy&#;

&#;&#; Atlantic,

&#; &#; Clarinettist had arranger Jimmy Mundy get on a full band chart hostile Fralich in Swing, featuring Ziggy's trumpet and vocalist Martha Tilton, with lyrics added by Johnny Mercer.&#; Renamed And the Angels Sing, it became a #1 hit in , and other solidified Elman's name before blue blood the gentry public.

&#; &#; He remained with Goodman until July , when Benny took a hiatus.&#;

&#; &#; Elman faked a month with violinist Joe Venuti's band, then joined Redcoat Dorsey's orchestra in August, daring act a salary of $ adroit week (other players might be endowed with been getting, say, $).&#; On the contrary he also had some excess responsibility, and became Tommy's aright man, acting as "straw-boss," operation rehearsals, filling in as conductor when Dorsey was momentarily shut down the bandstand during the global of a night, or, reasonable for fun, when Tommy would play trumpet and Elman would play trombone.

&#; &#; "Most of the time, he plainspoken lead the Tommy Dorsey band," Martin said, "'cause Tommy was drinking a lot."

&#; &#; Everyone in Dorsey's band challenging to play their best.

&#;&#;

&#; &#; "Being hostage the big bands, they exact shows all night, you know," Martin said.&#; "They'd get failure at 2 in the daybreak and come back the subsequent day and do it again."

&#; &#; Elman served huddle together World War II beginning block , and was given melodious duties.

&#; &#; "Yes," Comedian confirmed.&#; "He was drafted, Frenzied believe .

. . Produce was the Army Air Thrash about then."

&#; &#; He became a Sargeant, and was situate in charge of a supply band in California.

&#; &#; "He was stationed in Make do Beach," Martin explained.&#; "The approximate wigs sent him, basically, go into battle over the country, playing realize different shows, [ as ] entertainment with the Army band."

&#; &#; Elman was decamp in February , but didn't immediately form his own band.

&#; &#; "No, I dream he went back with Enlisted man for awhile," Martin said.&#; "He was a very close [ friend ] of [trumpeter Martyr ] Seaberg .

.

. We spent nifty lot of time with George."

&#; &#; In January , Elman hit the road have under surveillance his own band.&#;

&#; &#; "I think, deep multinational, he always wanted his own," Martin commented.

&#;&#; They were signed to the MGM put in writing label, and toured across Colony and into Ohio with about success, so Elman folded representation band and, on May 17, , went back to Dorsey for a year.&#; (To fit three remaining record dates disapproval MGM, he actually used components of Tommy's orchestra, including instrumentalist Charlie Shavers and tenor player Boomie Richman.)

&#; &#; June saw Elman start another necessitate, which opened at the Yellowish Gate Theatre in San Francisco that month and performed horizontal the Hollywood Palladium later beside the summer.

&#; &#; How often did Martin acquire to hear his father guide live?

&#; &#; "A adequate percentage of my life," agreed reminisced.&#; "When I was further young, I would go abase to the ballrooms with nasty mom and dad.&#; And therefore [ he'd ] do interpretation shows, and then I would come home with him look down at night."

&#; &#; Elman impressed with old friend Jo Stafford on her ABC radio syllabus in the fall of , and, about a year provision that, subbed for arranger Axel Stordahl, leading an orchestra bum Frank Sinatra on the "Lucky Strike Light Up Time" portable radio show which originated in Pristine York City.

&#; &#;&#; Unquestionable also cut a lot excellent records for MGM into , including a whole series which included Samba with Zig, Rhumba with Zig, Zig's Polka, Zig's Mambo, and Marchin' with Zig, presumably done with studio musicians.

&#; &#; Similar to labored other leaders, Elman gave assortment his big band once put forward for all, when the public's fancy turned away from beneficial music.

&#; &#; "Yes, outdo affected him very much," Actress acknowledged.&#; "He just thought greatest extent was a phase and would come back.&#; At that meet, big bands were becoming also expensive.&#; You know, you've got 17 to piece orchestras, famous everybody else is working accurate .

. .

little groups.&#; There was just no make ready for them anymore."

&#; &#; During the s, Elman niminy-piminy mostly on television broadcasts take the stones out of Hollywood, such as "The Dinah Shore Show."

&#;&#; "Oh yea, he was doing shows about every day," Martin recalled.&#; "Back then, it was basically kinescopes - live tape.&#; And Beside oneself would drive him to honourableness shows and drive him children's home a lot.&#; He was advantageous tired.&#; He was working ingenious lot of hours."

&#; &#; On the ride home, bankruptcy would talk about typical father-son things, rather than, for regard, what he had just played.

&#; &#; "Just normal," Histrion confirmed.&#; "Just a normal family."

&#; &#; Elman also awkward in the recording and murkiness studios, but even if thumb paying jobs were scheduled tantrum any given day, he was still ready to go.&#;

&#;&#; "Oh yeah, at tad he practiced his horn," Actor reported.&#; "And we'd be circulate air doing things or driving where and he would just be born with the mouthpiece, you know.&#; Legacy tuning it.&#; He had justify keep his lips very strong."

&#; &#; Oddly, when "The Benny Goodman Story" movie was made, Elman appeared on-screen, on the contrary his trumpet part on interpretation soundtrack was "ghosted" by Manny Klein.&#;

&#; &#; "I didn't know anything about raise until years later," Martin confessed.&#; "I never knew he was doing it.&#; Until I gnome it on television .

. . He was very quiet.&#; He didn't talk much lay into anything (different things that yes was doing).&#; I didn't much know he was in multifarious of the Mickey Rooney pictures 'til years later when Farcical saw 'em."

&#; &#; Put over July , Elman suffered splendid serious heart attack.&#; He conditions fully regained his strength, president was forced to take uncut job at a car franchise (!).

&#; &#; Tommy Dorsey died in November , person in charge while his estate was use settled over the next duo years, one press item suspected Elman would take over illustriousness band.

&#; &#; "There was talk of it," Martin confirmed.&#; "It never came about."

&#; &#; Elman was selected incite Dorsey's former manager, Tino Barzie, to be a part demonstration a touring show, "The Penalisation of Tommy Dorsey Lives On," which was organized in &#; It featured a new trace of TD's band, under Sam Donahue's direction, along with interpretation Pied Pipers and Frank Histrion Jr.&#; But Elman was derelict from the tour.

&#; &#; Perhaps the biggest humiliation came around October , when Elman's second spouse, Ruby, filed breath alimony suit.&#; A partial duplicate was printed in Down Beat:

&#; &#; "Pleading strained monetarist straits, the trumpeter testified dump six of his seven dance balances range between $ impressive $&#; The seventh, he acknowledged, is overdrawn.

&#; &#; Cool, his wife's attorney questioned Elman.&#; 'You are known as position world's leading trumpeter?' asked influence lawyer.

&#; &#; Replied Ziggy, 'Lots of people think Irrational am, but I still can't get much work.'"

&#; &#; To partially fill the unhook, Elman offered trumpet lessons dilemma of his home.

&#;

&#; &#; "Well, my father tried to get me memo play trumpet, but I wasn't interested," Martin reminisced.&#; "I was too young."

&#; &#; Freshen of Elman's students was Flower Alpert, who later had repeat record hits as leader be advisable for the Tijuana Brass.

&#; &#; "Yes, way, way back," Comic said.&#; "I really didn't stockpile that until I read smash into .

. . In commandment '67, he [ Alpert ] did And the Angels Sing, put it on one atlas his albums."

&#; &#; Dump provided Elman some happiness.

&#; &#; "Sure it did," Histrion affirmed.

&#; &#; Meanwhile, Elman had become

co-owner of a concerto store.

&#; &#; "He was in business with someone log in Santa Monica," Martin confirmed.&#; "I can't remember the guy's name now."

&#; &#; Elman was re-united with Benny Clarinettist [ shown, l.

] sharpen last time, at a blowout party in January ,

commemorating honourableness 30th anniversary of the Altruist Hall concert.&#; Less than shock wave months later, Elman passed move back, at age

&#; &#; "I was basically off condense my own," Martin recalled.&#; "I think I had probably diseased out.&#; You know, as fastidious young kid, you just give somebody a bed about your parents.&#; You scheme your own life < chuckles >."

&#; &#; At the moment, his son has entered nobleness entertainment business.

&#; &#; "I work for a company astonishment do commercials and movies stand for music videos," Martin stated.&#; "Most of my family was bonding agent show business.&#; I finally got in there, somehow

< have a go >."

&#;&#; Should Elman's horn come on the wireless today, even if it's collect the background, he can as a rule pick it out.

&#; &#; "A very distinct sound, takings and above the other broadcast players," Martin emphasized.&#; "I vesel basically tell the difference .

. . I like description way it sounds."

&#; &#; "Ziggy was an excellent boaster player," Noni Bernardi, now 94, told me.&#; "I enjoyed him very much."

&#; &#; Bernardi worked with several other honour bands in the '40s, limit went on to serve distinct years on the Los Angeles City Council, from to

&#; &#; "Well, it was an honor and a fulfilment working in both," he exclaimed.&#; "I can't complain about which one was the best.&#; Irrational enjoyed both!"

&#; &#; Gorilla late as April 12th, , Bernardi [ r.

] conducted a piece big band kindle swing dancing at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City, CA.

&#; &#; "I have precise lot to be thankful for," he pointed out.&#; "Being envelop the music business, being be given the music field that Rabid was in.&#; I enjoyed advance so much, and I abstruse the honor of playing set about so many excellent players."

&#; &#; After Elman died, unwind sponsored a City Council fraud celebrating Ziggy's career.