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Arthur Relsmond "Skeets" Herfurt (28 May 1911 – 17 April 1992) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.


Career highlights

Herfurt was born in Cincinnati and raised in Denver and played in bands while attending the University of Colorado. He performed with
Smith Ballew Sykes "Smith" Ballew (January 21, 1902 – May 2, 1984) was an American actor, sophisticated singer, orchestra leader, and a western singing star. He also was billed as Buddy Blue, Charles Roberts, and Billy Smith. Early years The son of Wil ...
(1934),
Jimmy Jimmy may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy * ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma * ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...
and Tommy Dorsey (together 1934–1935, Jimmy 1935–1937, and Tommy 1937–1939), and Ray Noble. After moving to California, he worked with Alvino Rey, then served in the Army from 1944 to 1945. After the war, he flourished as a studio musician in
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...
, led his own band, and performed with
Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...
from 1946 to 1947 and Earle Spencer in 1946. His studio credits, into the 1960s, include sessions with
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 ...
,
Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...
, Georgie Auld, Jack Teagarden, and Stan Kenton. He worked with Goodman again in 1961 and 1964. End of the 1960s he joined the
Ray Conniff Joseph Raymond Conniff (November 6, 1916 – October 12, 2002) was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s. Biography Conniff was born November 6, 1916 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, United St ...
orchestra for several tours (a. o. Japan and Germany) and recording sessions during the 1970s. Herfurt was a member of Lawrence Welk's orchestra and weekly television show from 1979 to 1982, performing on lead alto saxophone.''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, Second edition,'' three volumes, edited by
Barry Kernfeld Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians. Education In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at U ...
, London: Macmillan Publishers (2002)
He died in New Orleans at the age of 80.


Filmography

Herfurt appeared as a saxophonist in the 1956 film ''
The Nightmare ''The Nightmare'' is a 1781 oil painting by Swiss artist Henry Fuseli. It shows a woman in deep sleep with her arms thrown below her, and with a demonic and apelike incubus crouched on her chest. The painting's dreamlike and haunting erotic ...
'', and plays clarinet on the soundtrack. He also performed on the soundtrack to the 1974 film ''
The Fortune ''The Fortune'' is a 1975 American black comedy film starring Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty, and directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Adrien Joyce focuses on two bumbling con men who plot to steal the fortune of a wealthy young heir ...
''.


Discography

With Glen Gray * ''Casa Loma in Hi-Fi'' (Capitol, 1956) * ''Sounds of the Great Bands!'' (Capitol, 1958) * ''Solo Spotlight'' (Capitol, 1960) * ''Please Mr. Gray...'' (Capitol, 1961) With
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 ...
* ''A Band Is Born'' (Capitol, 1952) * ''Sorta-May'' (Capitol, 1955) * ''The Girls and Boys On Broadway'' (Capitol, 1960) With others *
Ray Anthony Raymond Antonini (born January 20, 1922), known as Ray Anthony, is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter, and actor. He is the last surviving member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Biography Anthony was born to an Italian family in Ben ...
, ''Ray Anthony Plays Steve Allen'' (Capitol, 1958) * Georgie Auld, ''
In the Land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and His Orchestra ''In the Land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and His Orchestra'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Georgie Auld featuring tracks recorded in 1955 and released on the EmArcy label.Joe "Fingers" Carr Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...
, ''The Riotous, Raucous, Red-Hot 20's!'' (Warner Bros., 1961) * Frankie Carle, ''Era: The 30' Music of the Great Bands'' (Dot, 1968) * Larry Clinton, ''The Uncollected Larry Clinton and His Orchestra 1937-1938'' (Hindsight, 1977) *
Ray Conniff Joseph Raymond Conniff (November 6, 1916 – October 12, 2002) was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s. Biography Conniff was born November 6, 1916 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, United St ...
, ''Turn Around Look at Me'' (CBS, 1968) * Ray Conniff, ''Concert in Stereo'' (Columbia, 1970) * Bob Eberly & Helen O'Connell, ''Recapturing the Excitement of the Jimmy Dorsey Era'' (Warner Bros., 1961) *
Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...
, ''Hello Benny!'' (Capitol, 1964) * The Four Freshmen, ''Four Freshmen and Five Saxes'' (Capitol, 1957) *
Bob Keene Robert Keene (August 26, 1919 – March 20, 2010) was an American football player. A native of Detroit, Keene attended McKenzie High School and played college football at the University of Detroit. He played professional football in the Nati ...
, ''Bob Keene & His Orchestra'' (Fresh Sound, 1954) * Stan Kenton, ''
Kenton in Hi-Fi ''Kenton in Hi-Fi'' is an album by bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton featuring performances of Kenton's signature compositions from the 1940s recorded in 1956 and released on the Capitol label.Vosbein, PStan Kenton Discographyaccessed April 16, 2 ...
'' (Capitol, 1956) * Pete Rugolo, ''
10 Saxophones and 2 Basses ''10 Saxophones and 2 Basses'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1961 and first released on the Mercury label as part of its audiophile Perfect Presence Sound Series.Jack Teagarden, ''This Is Teagarden!'' (Capitol, 1956)


References

General references * "Skeets Herfurt," '' Grove Jazz'' online Inline citations


External links


Skeets Herfurt 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:Herfurt, Skeets 1911 births 1992 deaths American jazz clarinetists American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists Musicians from Ohio 20th-century American musicians Lawrence Welk 20th-century saxophonists American male jazz musicians Earle Spencer Orchestra members 20th-century American male musicians