Donald Alton Fagerquist (February 6, 1927 – January 23, 1974) was a small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player from the

West Coast of the United States The West Coast of the United States, also known as the Pacific Coast, Pacific states, and the western seaboard, is the coastline along which the Western United States meets the North Pacific Ocean. The term typically refers to the contiguous U.S ...

Career

Fagerquist was a featured soloist with several major bands, including

Mal Hallett Mal Hallett (born 1893, Roxbury, Massachusetts – died November 20, 1952, Boston) was an American jazz violinist and bandleader. Biography Hallett was a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music. He played in France during World War I as a m ...

(1943),

Gene Krupa Eugene Bertram Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973), known as Gene Krupa, was an American jazz drummer, bandleader and composer who performed with energy and showmanship. His drum solo on Benny Goodman's 1937 recording of "Sing, Sing, S ...

(1944–50),

Artie Shaw Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction. Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists", Shaw led ...

(1949–50), Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five (1949–50),

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

(1951–52), Les Brown (1953), and the

Dave Pell David Pell (February 26, 1925 – May 7, 2017) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and record producer. He was best known for leading a cool jazz octet in the 1950s. Biography Pell played in his teens with the big bands of Tony Pastor, B ...

Octet (1953–59). He played on the ''

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book'' is a 1963 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald accompanied by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. The album focuses on the songs of the composer Jerome Ke ...

'' album (1963) under the baton of

Nelson Riddle Nelson Smock Riddle Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. He worked with many world-famous vocalists at Capitol Records ...

. Despite high demand for his services as a lyrical soloist, he only recorded 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''). In 1956, Fagerquist signed on as a staff musician for Paramount Films, while still periodically recording with artists such as

Shelly Manne Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, s ...

Mel Tormé Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed "The Velvet Fog", was an American musician, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. He composed the music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Op ...

, and

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and very occasional tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Active in West Coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known ...

. Throughout the early- to mid-1960s, Fagerquist's solos could be heard on the recordings of

Pete Rugolo Pietro "Pete" Rugolo (December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011) was an American jazz composer, arranger and record producer. Life and career Rugolo was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settle ...

Frank Comstock Frank G. Comstock (September 20, 1922 – May 21, 2013) was an American composer, arranger, conductor and trombonist. For television, Comstock wrote and arranged music for major situation comedies and variety shows; his theme and incidental musi ...

Billy May Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for ''The Green Hornet'' (1966), ''The Mod Squad'' (1968), ''Batman'' (with '' Batgirl'' them ...

Paul Weston Paul Weston (born Paul Wetstein; March 12, 1912 – September 20, 1996) was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor who worked in music and television from the 1930s to the 1970s, pioneering mood music and becoming known as "the F ...

Si Zentner Simon Hugh Zentner (June 13, 1917 in New York City, United States – January 31, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada) was an American trombonist and jazz big-band leader. Zentner played in the bands of Les Brown, Harry James, and Jimmy Dorsey in the ...

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

and many others. By 1966, health issues forced Fagerquist to withdraw from studio recording altogether. He died from

kidney disease Kidney disease, or renal disease, technically referred to as nephropathy, is damage to or disease of a kidney. Nephritis is an inflammatory kidney disease and has several types according to the location of the inflammation. Inflammation can ...

at his home in

Canoga Park, California Canoga Park is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. Before the Mexican–American War, the district was part of a rancho, and after the American victory it was converted into wheat farms and the ...

, at the age of 46.

Selected discography

With

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

and

Bud Shank Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and thro ...

*''

Theme Music from "The James Dean Story" ''Theme Music from "The James Dean Story"'' is a 1956 soundtrack album to the James Dean biopic, '' The James Dean Story'' composed by Leith Stevens and featuring trumpeter Chet Baker and saxophonist Bud Shank.Louis Bellson Louie Bellson (born Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, July 6, 1924 – February 14, 2009), often seen in sources as Louis Bellson, although he himself preferred the spelling Louie, was an American jazz drummer. He was a composer, ...

*''

Louis Bellson Swings Jule Styne ''Louis Bellson Swings Jule Styne'' is an album by American jazz drummer Louis Bellson featuring performances of tunes written by Jule Styne recorded in 1960 for the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1960) With

Hoagy Carmichael Hoagland Howard Carmichael (November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, actor and lawyer. Carmichael was one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s, and was among the first ...

*''

Hoagy Sings Carmichael ''Hoagy Sings Carmichael'' (subtitled ''With the Pacific Jazzmen arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel'') is an album by composer and vocalist Hoagy Carmichael recorded in 1956 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.Bob Cooper *''

Coop! The Music of Bob Cooper ''Coop! The Music of Bob Cooper'' is an album by saxophonist Bob Cooper recorded in 1957 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1958) With

Fred Katz Frederick Carl Katz (21 May 1877 – 13 December 1960) was an Australian trade unionist and politician. He had a long association with the Australian labour movement, holding senior leadership positions with the Federated Clerks' Union, Feder ...

*''

Folk Songs for Far Out Folk ''Folk Songs for Far Out Folk'' is an album by Fred Katz (cellist), Fred Katz originally released on Warner Bros. Records, Warner Bros. in 1959. It features orchestral jazz interpretations of African, Hebrew and American folk tunes.

'' (Warner Bros., 1958) *''

Fred Katz and his Jammers ''Fred Katz and his Jammers'' is an album by Fred Katz originally released on Decca in 1959.Fred Katz Catalog< ...

'' (Decca, 1959) With

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

*'' The Ballad Style of Stan Kenton'' (Capitol, 1958) With

Junior Mance Julian Clifford Mance, Jr. (October 10, 1928 – January 17, 2021), known as Junior Mance, was an American jazz pianist and composer. Biography Early life (1928–1947) Mance was born in Evanston, Illinois. When he was five years old, Mance st ...

*'' Get Ready, Set, Jump!!!'' (Capitol, 1964) *'' Straight Ahead!'' (Capitol, 1964) With

* ''Dave Pell Octet Plays Irving Berlin'' (Kapp, 1954) *''Dave Pell Octet Plays Rodgers & Hart'' (Kapp, 1954) *'' Jazz & Romantic Places'' (Atlantic, 1955) * ''Jazz Goes Dancing'' (RCA, 1956) * ''I Had the Craziest Dream'' (Capitol Records, 1957) With

Shorty Rogers Milton "Shorty" Rogers (born Milton Rajonsky; April 14, 1924 – November 7, 1994) was an American jazz musician, one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played trumpet and flugelhorn and was in demand for his skills as an arran ...

*''

Martians Come Back! ''Martians Come Back!'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers, released on the Atlantic label in August 1956.

'' (Atlantic, 1955

956 Year 956 ( CMLVI) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Summer – Emperor Constantine VII appoints Nikephoros Phokas to commander of the ...

*''

Way Up There ''Way Up There'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers, released on the Atlantic label in 1957.957 Year 957 ( CMLVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * September 6 – Liudolf, the eldest son of King Otto I, dies of a violent fever nea ...

*''

Portrait of Shorty ''Portrait of Shorty'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter composer and arranger Shorty Rogers which was released on the RCA Victor label in 1958. Reception Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars. On All About Jazz Jack Bowers stated "there’s p ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1957) *''

Afro-Cuban Influence ''Afro-Cuban Influence'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers which was released by RCA Victor in 1958.Chances Are It Swings ''Chances Are It Swings'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing compositions by Robert Allen which was released on the RCA Victor label in 1959.The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs ''The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing songs composed by Harold Arlen including several from '' The Wizard of Oz''. The album was issued by RCA Victor in 1959 ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1959) *'' Shorty Rogers Meets Tarzan'' (MGM, 1960) With

*''

Music for Hi-Fi Bugs ''Music for Hi-Fi Bugs'' (also released as ''Music from Out of Space'') is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1956 and originally released on the EmArcy Records, EmArcy label as a 12-inch LP ...

'' (EmArcy, 1956) *'' Out on a Limb'' (EmArcy, 1956) *'' An Adventure in Sound: Brass in Hi-Fi'' (Mercury 1956

958 Year 958 ( CMLVIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * October / November – Battle of Raban: The Byzantines under John Tzimiskes ...

*''

Percussion at Work ''Percussion at Work'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1957 and first released on the EmArcy label.

'' (EmArcy, 1957) *''

Rugolo Plays Kenton ''Rugolo Plays Kenton'' (subtitled ''The Pete Rugolo Orchestra Plays Compositions Introduced by Stan Kenton'') is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances of tunes associated with Stan Kenton recorded in 1958 ...

'' (EmArcy, 1958) *''

The Music from Richard Diamond ''The Music from Richard Diamond'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring compositions written for ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' recorded in 1959 and first released on the EmArcy label.The Original Music of Thriller'' (Time, 1961) *'' Ten Trumpets and 2 Guitars'' (Mercury, 1961) With

Mel Torme Mel, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

*''

Mel Torme Sings Fred Astaire Mel, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

'' (Bethlehem, 1956) *''Mel Torme with the Marty Paich dek-tette'' (Bethlehem, 1956) *''California Suite'' (Bethlehem, 1957) With the Benny Goodman Orchestra & Brussels World's Fair Orchestra *''Salute to Benny Goodman'' (Crown, 1958) With Skip Martin's Scheherajazz *''A Symphony in Jazz by the Video All-Stars'' (Stereo-Fidelity, 1959)

References

External links

* * * *
Don Fagerquist recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fagerquist, Don 1927 births 1974 deaths Cool jazz trumpeters Musicians from Worcester, Massachusetts 20th-century American musicians 20th-century trumpeters