Donald Trenner (March 10, 1927 – May 16, 2020) was an American jazz pianist and arranger born in New Haven, Connecticut.

Career

He began his career playing with Ted Fio Rito from 1943 to 1945, and followed this with a slot in Buddy Morrow's orchestra in 1947. He worked with Charlie Barnet in 1951 and following this with Jerry Gray, Charlie Parker,

Stan Getz Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of ...

, Georgie Auld, Jerry Fielding, Skinnay Ennis, Les Brown, Dick Haymes,

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, Ann-Margret,

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and Nancy Wilson. In 1957 he played with Oscar Pettiford and toured Europe in 1958 with Anita O'Day. He also toured with Bob Hope entertaining the U.S. troops. Additionally, he recorded with Tommy Dorsey, Vic Schoen, Howard McGhee, Frances Faye, Betty Roche,

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 ...

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Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz upright bassist, pianist, composer, bandleader, and author. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and ...

, and Ben Webster. In the 1960s, Trenner worked as a studio musician, and led '' The Steve Allen Show'' house band. He continued working in television throughout the 1970s and 80s.

Personal life

On April 22,1947 in Elkton, Maryland, Trenner married singer Helen Carr, who sang with The Donn Trio. They were married until her death in 1960. In 1966 Trenner married actress and singer B. J. Ward. Although they divorced in 1978, they remained one of each other's closest and dearest friends until his death.Leave It To Me... My Life in Music
Donn Trenner and Tim Atherton In 1990, Trenner married Marycarmen Jones and though they divorced in 2005, they continued marking days as a family. They had a daughter, Sara Elizabeth Trenner.

Discography

With Dave Pell *'' Jazz & Romantic Places'' (Atlantic, 1955) With

Betty Roché Mary Elizabeth Roché (January 9, 1918 – February 16, 1999) was an American blues singer. Though she had a sporadic career, she became best known for her version of " Take the "A" Train" with its composer Duke Ellington, and, according to A ...

*'' Take the "A" Train'' (Bethlehem, 1956) With Ben Webster *''

The Warm Moods ''The Warm Moods'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster featuring tracks recorded in 1960 for the Reprise label.Donn Trenner Donald Trenner (March 10, 1927 – May 16, 2020) was an American jazz pianist and arranger born in New Haven, Connecticut. Career He began his career playing with Ted Fio Rito from 1943 to 1945, and followed this with a slot in Buddy Morrow's orc ...

at Allmusic

External links

*
Donn Trenner Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2004) {{DEFAULTSORT:Trenner, Donn 1927 births 2020 deaths American jazz pianists American male pianists American jazz bandleaders Musicians from New Haven, Connecticut 20th-century American pianists Jazz musicians from Connecticut 21st-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians