Don Fagerquist
Donald Alton Fagerquist (February 6, 1927 – January 23, 1974)[1] was a small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player from the West Coast of the United States. CareerFagerquist was a featured soloist with several major bands,[1] including Mal Hallett (1943), Gene Krupa (1944–50), Artie Shaw (1949–50), Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five (1949–50), Woody Herman (1951–52), Les Brown (1953), and the Dave Pell Octet (1953–59).[2] He played on the Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook album (1963) under the baton of Nelson Riddle.[3] Despite high demand for his services as a lyrical soloist, he recorded only twice as a leader: a half-date for Capitol in 1955 (reissued as part of the Dave Pell Octet CD I Had the Craziest Dream) and a complete project for Mode in 1957 (Music to Fill a Void).[4] In 1956, Fagerquist signed on as a staff musician for Paramount Films, while still periodically recording with artists such as Shelly Manne, Mel Tormé, and Art Pepper.[5] Throughout the early- to mid-1960s, Fagerquist's solos could be heard on the recordings of Pete Rugolo, Frank Comstock, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Paul Weston, Si Zentner, Dean Martin and many others. By 1966, health issues forced Fagerquist to withdraw from studio recording altogether. He died from kidney disease at his home in Canoga Park, California, at the age of 46.[6] Selected discographyWith Chet Baker and Bud Shank
With Louis Bellson
With Hoagy Carmichael
With Bob Cooper
With Fred Katz
With Stan Kenton
With Junior Mance
With Dave Pell
With Shorty Rogers
With Pete Rugolo
With Mel Torme
With the Benny Goodman Orchestra & Brussels World's Fair Orchestra
With Skip Martin's Scheherajazz
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