William Richard Berry (September 14, 1930 – November 13, 2002) 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 ...

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...

er, best known for playing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in the early-1960s, and for leading his own big band.

Early life and education

Born in

Benton Harbor, Michigan Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is 46 miles southwest of Kalamazoo and 71 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. According to the 2020 census, its population was 9,103. It is the smaller, by population, o ...

, Berry was the son of a bass player in a touring dance band. He spent his early years traveling with his parents.Dennis McLellan, "Bill Berry, 72; Band Leader, Duke Ellington's Trumpeter," ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...

'', November 20, 2002. From the age of five, he took piano lessons at his parents' home in

South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total of 103,453 residents and is the fourt ...

. In high school in Cincinnati, he switched to trumpet, which he played in a Midwest band led by Don Strickland. Berry studied at the Cincinnati College of Music and Berklee College of Music in Boston, and played trumpet with the

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 ...

and Maynard Ferguson orchestra.

Career

Berry served four years in the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

. In 1961, he became one of the Duke Ellington orchestra's first white members. After his working with Ellington, he played with the The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra and led his own big band in New York. In 1965, he joined ''

The Merv Griffin Show ''The Merv Griffin Show'' is an American television talk show starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, May 10, 1965 to July 4, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 ...

'', where he remained for fifteen years, moving to Los Angeles with Griffin and reforming his group as the L.A. Big Band in 1971.

Jack Nimitz Jack Nimitz (January 11, 1930 – June 10, 2009) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist. He was nicknamed "The Admiral". Career A native of Washington, D.C., Nimitz started on clarinet in his early teens before playing alto saxophone. Dur ...

, a baritone saxophonist in his band, said "He knew how to get what he wanted out of the band in a very relaxed way — nice and easy, no shouting." Among the most successful of his own recordings was ''Shortcake'' (Concord, 1978), an album of jazz for small group in the Ellington style;Bill Berry, ''Shortcake''
review
by Dave Glackin. he appeared on many albums by other musicians, including Rosemary Clooney (''Everything's Coming Up Rosie''), Scott Hamilton (''Scott Hamilton Is a Good Wind Who Is Blowing Us No Ill''),

Jake Hanna Jake Hanna (April 4, 1931 – February 12, 2010) was an American jazz drummer. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, United States. Hanna first performed in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the house drummer at Storyville nightclub in Boston, ...

(''Live at Concord''), and

Coleman Hawkins Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first p ...

(''Wrapped Tight'').

Discography

As leader

* ''Hot & Happy'' (Beez, 1974) * ''Hello Rev'' (Concord Jazz, 1976) * ''For Duke'' (M&K, 1978) * ''Shortcake'' (Concord Jazz, 1978)

As sideman

With

Frank Capp Francis Cappuccio (August 20, 1931 – September 12, 2017), known professionally as Frank Capp, was an American jazz drummer. Capp also played on numerous rock and roll sessions and is considered to be a member of The Wrecking Crew. Biography ...

* ''Juggernaut'' (Concord Jazz, 1977) * ''Live at the Century Plaza'' (Concord Jazz, 1978) * ''Juggernaut Strikes Again!'' (Concord Jazz, 1982) * ''Live at the Alley Cat'' (Concord Jazz, 1987) * ''In a Hefti Bag'' (Concord Jazz, 1995) * ''Play It Again Sam'' (Concord Jazz, 1997) With Duke Ellington * ''Midnight in Paris'' (CBS, 1962) * ''My People'' (Contact, 1964) * ''Ellingtonia Reevaluations'' (Impulse!/ABC 1973) * ''Recollections of the Big Band Era'' (Atlantic, 1982) * ''Serenade to Sweden'' (Black Lion, 1982) * ''Jungle Triangle'' (Black Lion, 1983) * ''Featuring Paul Gonsalves'' (Fantasy, 1984) With Maynard Ferguson * '' Maynard '61'' (Roulette, 1961) * '' Two's Company'' (Roulette, 1961) * '' "Straightaway" Jazz Themes'' (Roulette, 1961) With Thad Jones/Mel Lewis * ''Presenting Thad Jones/Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra'' (Solid State, 1966) * ''Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Solid State, 1967) * ''Thad Jones/Mel Lewis'' (Blue Note, 1975) * ''Opening Night'' (BMG, 1997) * ''Village Vanguard Live Sessions'' (LaserLight, 1997) * ''The Second Race'' (LaserLight, 1999) * ''All My Yesterdays'' (Resonance, 2016) With others * Ruth Brown, ''Fine and Mellow'' (Fantasy, 1992) * Ruth Brown, ''Fine Brown Frame'' (Capitol, 1993) *

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

, ''A Man Called Adam'' (Retrograde, 2007) *

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

, ''Porgy & Bess'' (RCA/BMG 1989) * Rosemary Clooney, ''Everything's Coming Up Rosie'' (Concord Jazz, 1977) * Chris Connor, ''

Double Exposure In photography and cinematography, a multiple exposure is the superimposition of two or more exposures to create a single image, and double exposure has a corresponding meaning in respect of two images. The exposure values may or may not be ide ...

'' (Atlantic, 1961) *

Randy Crawford Veronica "Randy" Crawford (born February 18, 1952) is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 as a solo artist. However, she has ap ...

, ''Everything Must Change'' (Warner Bros., 1976) * Bing Crosby, ''A Tribute to Duke'' (Concord Jazz, 1977) *

Dave Frishberg David Lee Frishberg (March 23, 1933 – November 17, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist. His songs have been performed by Blossom Dearie, Rosemary Clooney, Shirley Horn, Anita O'Day, Michael Feinstein, Irene Kr ...

, ''Oklahoma Toad'' (CTI, 1970) * Scott Hamilton, ''Scott Hamilton Is a Good Wind Who Is Blowing Us No Ill'' (Concord Jazz, 1977) *

, ''Live at Concord'' (Concord Jazz, 1975) * Jake Hanna, ''Jake Hanna's Kansas City Express'' (Concord Jazz, 1976) *

, ''Wrapped Tight'' (Impulse!, 1965) *

, ''Woody Herman and His Orchestra '58 Featuring the Preacher'' (Columbia, 1958) * Earl Hines, ''Once Upon a Time'' (Impulse!, 1966) *

Johnny Hodges Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on soprano ...

, ''Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra'' (Verve, 1962) * Johnny Hodges, ''Don't Sleep in the Subway'' (Verve, 1967) * Milt Jackson, ''For Someone I Love'' (Riverside, 1963) * Milt Jackson, ''Big Band Bags'' (Milestone, 1973) *

Irene Kral Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978) was an American jazz singer who was born to Czechoslovakian parents in Chicago, Illinois and settled in Los Angeles in the early 1960s. She died from breast cancer in Encino, California. Kral's ...

& Herb Pomeroy, ''The Band and I'' (United Artists, 1959) *

Trini Lopez Trinidad López III (May 15, 1937 – August 11, 2020) was an American singer, guitarist, and actor. His first album included a cover version of Pete Seeger's " If I Had a Hammer", which earned a Golden Disc for him. His other hits include ...

, ''Live at Basin St. East'' (Reprise, 1964) * Johnny Mathis, ''In a Sentimental Mood'' (Columbia, 1990) *

Gary McFarland Gary Robert McFarland (October 23, 1933 – November 3, 1971) was an American composer, arranger, vibraphonist and vocalist. He recorded for the jazz imprints Verve and Impulse! Records during the 1960s. '' Down Beat magazine'' said he made "on ...

, ''Profiles'' (Impulse!, 1966) *

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 ...

, ''The Dave Pell Octet Plays Again'' (Fresh Sound, 1984) *

Herb Pomeroy Irving Herbert Pomeroy III (April 15, 1930 – August 11, 2007) was an American jazz trumpeter, teacher, and the founder of the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble. Early life Pomeroy was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States. He began playing ...

, ''Band in Boston'' (United Artists, 1959) *

Jimmy Rowles James George Hunter (August 19, 1918 – May 28, 1996), known professionally as Jimmy Rowles (sometimes spelled Jimmie Rowles), was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, and composer. As a bandleader and accompanist, he explored multiple styles in ...

, ''Plus2, Plus3, Plus4'' (JVC, 1995) *

Jack Sheldon Beryl Cyril Sheldon Jr. (November 30, 1931 – December 27, 2019), known professionally as Jack Sheldon, was an American singer, musician, and actor. He performed on '' The Merv Griffin Show'' and participated in episodes of the educational musi ...

, ''Singular'' (Beez, 1980) *

Patty Weaver A patty or burger (in British English) is a flattened, usually round, serving of ground meat and/or legumes, grains, vegetables, or meat alternatives. Patties are found in multiple cuisines throughout the world. In British and American Engl ...

, ''Feelings'' (RE/SE, 1976) * Joe Williams, ''Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis'' (Solid State, 1966) * Joe Williams and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, ''Joe Williams'' (LRC, 1990)

References

External links

Bill Berry, 72; Band Leader, Duke Ellington's Trumpeter
obituary by Dennis McLellan, ''Los Angeles Times'', November 20, 2002.

obituary, ''New York Times'', November 19, 2002.
Bill Berry
The Last Post (Jazzhouse.org obituary). {{DEFAULTSORT:Berry, Bill Swing trumpeters American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters Duke Ellington Orchestra members 1930 births 2002 deaths American male jazz musicians The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra members The Capp-Pierce Juggernaut members 20th-century American male musicians