Robert Leo Hackett (January 31, 1915 – June 7, 1976) 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, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

musician who played trumpet, cornet, and guitar with the bands of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Hackett was a featured soloist on some of the

Jackie Gleason John Herbert Gleason (February 26, 1916June 24, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, writer, composer, and conductor known affectionately as "The Great One." Developing a style and characters from growing up in Brooklyn, New York, he was know ...

mood music albums during the 1950s.

Biography

Bobby Hackett was born in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...

, United States. He made his name as a follower of cornet player Bix Beiderbecke. Benny Goodman hired the talented 23 year old to recreate Bix's "I'm Coming Virginia" solo at his (Goodman's) 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. In the late 1930s, Hackett played lead trumpet in the

Vic Schoen Victor Schoen (March 26, 1916 – January 5, 2000) was an American bandleader, arranger, and composer whose career spanned from the 1930s until his death in 2000. He furnished music for some of the most successful persons in show business inclu ...

Orchestra which backed the Andrews Sisters. Hackett can be heard on the soundtrack to the 1940

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

movie, ''

Second Chorus ''Second Chorus'' is a 1940 Hollywood musical comedy film starring Paulette Goddard and Fred Astaire and featuring Artie Shaw, Burgess Meredith and Charles Butterworth, with music by Artie Shaw, Bernie Hanighen and Hal Borne, and lyrics by ...

''. In 1939, the talent agency MCA asked Bobby Hackett to form a big band with its backing. When the band failed, he was in substantial debt to MCA after it folded. He joined the bands of

Horace Heidt Horace Heidt (May 21, 1901 – December 1, 1986) was an American pianist, big band leader, and radio and television personality. His band, Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights, toured vaudeville and performed on radio and television during the 19 ...

and then Glenn Miller to pay this debt. To make matters worse, his lip was in bad shape after dental surgery, making it difficult for him to play the trumpet or cornet. Glenn Miller offered him a job as a guitarist. "When I joined the band and I was making good money at last, .. azz criticsaccused me of selling out. Hell I wasn't selling out, I was selling ''in''! It's funny, isn't it, how you go right into the wastebasket with some critics the minute you become successful." Despite lip problems, Hackett could play occasional short solos, and he can be heard playing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra on " A String of Pearls". Hackett referred to this solo as 'just a little exercise'. A dream come true for Hackett was his inclusion in Louis Armstrong's 1947 Town Hall Jazz Concert. In 1954, he appeared as a regular on the ABC

variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a comp ...

The Martha Wright Show ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'', also known as ''The Packard Showroom''. His profile increased after he was hired by

as a cornet soloist, for seven of Gleason's

mood music Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, no ...

albums. Beginning in 1952, he appeared on Gleason's first Capitol Records album, ''

Music for Lovers Only ''Music for Lovers Only'' (or ''Jackie Gleason Presents Music for Lovers Only'') is a studio album of easy-listening music by Jackie Gleason, wherein he conducted an orchestra performing standards. It was released by Capitol Records on October 2 ...

''. The record — as well as all of Gleason's next 10 albums — went gold. He appeared on six more of Gleason's albums. This association led directly to his signing with Capitol Records and performing trumpet and flugelhorn solos on several popular albums, including the best selling concept albums of Frank Sinatra. Mosaic Records released ''The Complete Capitol Bobby Hackett Solo Sessions'' on a five-CD limited edition set. Most of the tracks were from Gleason's mood music albums. According to the liner notes, Hackett received compensation of between $30 to $40 thousand for six albums for Gleason. In 1965, he toured with the singer

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American retired singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a painter, having created works under his birt ...

. In 1966 and 1967, he accompanied Bennett on two European tours. In the early 1970s, he performed separately with Dizzy Gillespie and

Teresa Brewer Teresa Brewer (born Theresa Veronica Breuer; May 7, 1931 – October 17, 2007) was an American singer whose style incorporated pop, country, jazz, R&B, musicals, and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of th ...

. In 2012, Hackett was selected to be inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Bobby Hackett married Edna Lillian Lee Hackett (d. 2000) in 1937. The Hacketts lived primarily in New York City and spent summers on

Cape Cod, Massachusetts Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of mainland Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer mont ...

. They had a daughter, Barbara (d. 2003); and a son, Ernie, who became a professional drummer. Hackett was a Freemason and was active with St. Cecile Lodge #568, a lodge specifically for musicians and artists. Hackett died in 1976 of a heart attack at the age of 61.

Discography

As leader

* ''Soft Lights and Bobby Hackett'' (Capitol, 1954) * ''In a Mellow Mood'' (Capitol, 1955) * ''Coast Concert'' (Capitol, 1956) * ''Gotham Jazz Scene'' (Capitol, 1957) * ''Rendezvous'' (Capitol, 1957) * ''Bobby Hackett At The Embers'' (Capitol, 1958) * ''Don't Take Your Love from Me'' (Capitol, 1958) * ''Jazz Ultimate'' (Capitol, 1958) * ''The Bobby Hackett Quartet'' (Capitol, 1959) * ''Blues with a Kick'' (Capitol, 1959) * ''Hawaii Swings'' (Capitol, 1960) * ''Dream Awhile'' (Columbia, 1960) * ''The Most Beautiful Horn in the World'' (Columbia, 1962) * ''Night Love'' (Columbia, 1962) * ''Bobby Hackett Plays Henry Mancini'' (Epic, 1962) * ''Plays the Music of Bert Kaempfert'' (Epic, 1964) * ''Hello Louis!: Plays the Music of Louis Armstrong'' (Epic, 1964) * ''Trumpets' Greatest Hits'' (Epic, 1965) * ''Trumpet de Luxe'' (CBS, 1966) * ''Creole Cookin'' (Verve, 1967) * ''That Midnight Touch'' (Project 3, 1967) * ''A Time for Love'' (Project 3, 1967) * ''Bobby/Billy/Brazil'' (Verve, 1968) * ''This Is My Bag'' (Project 3, 1969) * ''Live at the Roosevelt Grill'' (Chiaroscuro, 1970) * ''The Bobby Hackett 4'' (Hyannisport, 1972) * ''Bobby Hackett and Vic Dickenson at the Royal Box'' (Hyannisport, 1972) * ''What a Wonderful World'' (Flying Dutchman, 1973) * ''Strike Up the Band'' (Flying Dutchman, 1975) * ''Live in New Orleans'' (Riff, 1976) * ''Featuring Vic Dickenson at the Roosevelt Grill'' (Chiaroscuro, 1977) * ''Tin Roof Blues'' (Honey Dew, 1977) * ''Butterfly Airs Vol. 1'' (Honey Dew, 1977) * ''Jazz Session'' (CBS, 1980)

As sideman

With

* ''Music for Lovers Only'' (Capitol, 1952) * ''Music to Make You Misty'' (Capitol, 1953) * ''Music, Martinis, and Memories'' (Capitol, 1954) * ''Jackie Gleason Presents Autumn Leaves'' (Capitol, 1955) * ''Music to Remember Her'' (Capitol, 1955) * ''Music to Change Her Mind'' (Capitol, 1956) * ''Jackie Gleason Presents Music for the Love Hours'' (Capitol, 1957) * ''Jackie Gleason Presents Lush Musical Interludes for That Moment'' (Capitol, 1959) * ''The Most Beautiful Girl in the World'' (Pickwick/33, 1967) With others ( Frankie Laine 1955 'Te Amo') * Louis Armstrong, ''Town Hall'' (RCA Victor, 1957) *

, ''

The Very Thought of You "The Very Thought of You" is a pop standard that was recorded and published in 1934 with music and lyrics by Ray Noble. The song was first recorded by Ray Noble and His Orchestra with Al Bowlly on vocals for HMV in England in April 1934. This re ...

'' (Columbia, 1965) * Tony Bennett, '' A Time for Love'' (Columbia, 1966) *

, ''Good News'' (Signature, 1974) * Ruth Brown, '' Ruth Brown'' (Atlantic, 1957) * Jim Cullum Jr., ''Goose Pimples'' (Audiophile, 1967) * Eddie Condon, ''Bixieland'' (credited as Pete Pesci, Columbia, 1955) * Eddie Condon, ''Midnight in Moscow'' (Epic, 1962) * Eddie Condon, ''Eddie Condon On Stage'' (Saga, 1973) * Dizzy Gillespie, ''

Giants A giant is a being of human appearance, sometimes of prodigious size and strength, common in folklore. Giant(s) or The Giant(s) may also refer to: Mythology and religion *Giants (Greek mythology) *Jötunn, a Germanic term often translated as 'gi ...

'' (Perception, 1971) * Benny Goodman, ''

The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert ''The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert'' by Benny Goodman, Columbia Records catalogue item SL-160, is a two- disc LP of swing and jazz music recorded at Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 16, 1938. First issued in 1950, the landmark ...

'' (Columbia, 1950) * Bill Kenny, ''

I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You" is a 1932 song recorded by Bing Crosby with Orchestral Accompaniment. The music was composed by Victor Young, with lyrics written by Ned Washington and Bing Crosby. The song is a jazz and pop standar ...

'' (Decca, 1951) * Glenn Miller, '' A String of Pearls'' (Bluebird, 1941) * Glenn Miller, ''

Rhapsody in Blue ''Rhapsody in Blue'' is a 1924 musical composition written by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects. Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, the work premiered i ...

'' (Victor, 1942) * Frank Sinatra, ''

I've Got a Crush on You "I've Got a Crush on You" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It is unique among Gershwin compositions in that it was used for two different Broadway productions: '' Treasure Girl'' (1928), when it was introduced ...

'' (Columbia, 1947) * Frank Sinatra, '' Body and Soul'' (Columbia, 1947) *

Jack Teagarden Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905 – January 15, 1964) was an American jazz trombonist and singer. According to critic Scott Yannow of Allmusic, Teagarden was the preeminent American jazz trombone player before the bebop era of the 19 ...

, ''Jack Teagarden!!!'' (Verve, 1962) *

Lee Wiley Lee Wiley (October 9, 1908 – December 11, 1975) was an American jazz singer during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Biography Wiley was born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. At fifteen, she left home to pursue a singing career, singing on New York ...

, ''Night in Manhattan'' (Columbia, 1955)

References

External links

Bobby Hackett recordings
at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.