Pete Candoli, Jazz Trumpeter, Dies at 84

Official Pete and Conti Candoli site: www.candoli.com

OBIT ARTICLES:

Pete Candoli, 84: jazz trumpeter
Known for his high-register work, the musician played with such big names as Dorsey, Herman, Kenton and Beneke.
By Jon Thurber, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 16, 2008

From The New York Times:
Pete Candoli, Jazz Trumpeter, Dies at 84
By PETER KEEPNEWS
Published: January 17, 2008

Pete Candoli, a jazz trumpeter who made his mark as a high-note specialist in the big-band era and went on to become one of the busiest studio musicians in Hollywood, died on Friday at his home in Studio City, Calif. He was 84.

The cause was prostate cancer, said his partner, Sheryl Deauville.

Born Walter Joseph Candoli in Mishawaka, Ind., on June 28, 1923, Mr. Candoli became a professional musician in his teens and had already worked with several big bands, including Tommy Dorsey’s, when he joined the Woody Herman Herd in 1944, at the age of 21. His stratospheric range was prominently featured with Herman on numbers that he sometimes played while wearing a Superman costume. He also took part in the historic 1946 Carnegie Hall concert at which the Herman band performed the world premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s “Ebony Concerto.”

In 1955 Mr. Candoli moved to Los Angeles. There, in addition to continuing his jazz work with Stan Kenton and others, he became an active studio musician, working on film and television soundtracks as well as record dates for Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and numerous others. He was a member of the Henry Mancini ensemble that provided the memorable jazz-inflected score for the television show “Peter Gunn,” on which he occasionally appeared on camera.

From 1957 to 1962 Mr. Candoli was the co-leader of a small group with his younger brother, Conte, an equally accomplished trumpeter with a similar big-band résumé. The Candoli brothers continued to work together on and off into the 1990s. Conte Candoli died in 2001.

Mr. Candoli’s three marriages, all to fellow performers, ended in divorce. He was married to the actress Vicky Lane from 1953 to 1958, the actress-singer Betty Hutton from 1960 to 1967 and the actress-singer Edie Adams from 1972 to 1989. He and Ms. Adams briefly toured in the 1970s with a nightclub act in which he sang and danced as well as playing trumpet and leading the orchestra.

Besides Ms. Deauville, he is survived by two daughters, Tara Candoli and Caroline Byers, both of Los Angeles; a sister, Gloria Henke of Mishawaka; and two grandchildren.

Al Hirt, Pete Candoli, Dizzy Gillespie, and Don Ellis - A clip from a 70's show.... Al Hirt introducing Pete Candoli, Dizzy Gillespie, and Don Ellis.