Randolph E. Brooks (March 28, 1917 – March 21, 1967)
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 major ...
trumpeter and
bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a rock or pop band or jazz quartet. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or ...
.
Brooks began on trumpet at age six, and by the age of 11 was discovered by
Rudy Vallee
Rudy or Rudi is a masculine given name, sometimes short for Rudolf, Rudolph, Rawad, Rudra, Ruairidh, or variations thereof, a nickname and a surname which may refer to:
People Given name or nickname
*Rudolf Rudy Andeweg (born 1952), Dutch poli ...
,
and appeared on his Fleischman Hour radio show, and became a permanent member where he played thrilling trumpet solos, but was not allowed to play with the brass section of the band. By the time he was eighteen he was working with Jerry Blane for an entire summer in western New Jersey, followed by
Gene Kardos
Eugene Kardos (June 12, 1899 – July 27, 1980) was the leader of a jazz and dance orchestra in the 1930s. He recorded for Victor in 1931–32 and then recorded for ARC's labels (Perfect, Melotone, Banner, Oriole, Romeo, Vocalion etc.) through 19 ...
and then Ruby Newman at the
Rainbow Room
The Rainbow Room is a private event space on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Run by Tishman Speyer, it is among the highest venues in New York City. The Rainbow Room serves clas ...
in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. He was then hired by
Hal Kemp
James Hal Kemp (March 27, 1904 – December 21, 1940) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, and arranger.
Biography
Hal Kemp was born in Marion, Alabama. He formed his first band in high school, and by the a ...
with whom he cut his first records for the Victor label in 1939.
After Kemp’s death late in 1940, he stayed with the band when
Art Jarrett
Arthur L. Jarrett Jr. (July 20, 1907 – July 23, 1987) born to stage actor and playwright Arthur L. Jarrett Sr. (1884–1960). Art Jr. was an American singer, actor, and bandleader in the 1930s and 1940s.
Early career
Near the end of the 19 ...
took leadership of the group.
By June 1942, he had moved on to
Claude Thornhill
Claude Thornhill (August 10, 1908 – July 1, 1965) was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. He composed the jazz and pop standards "Snowfall" and "I Wish I Had You".
Early years
Thornhill was the son of J. Chester Thornhill ...
,
followed a few months later by Bob Allen, but within a year he was playing with
Les Brown,
before founding his own band in early 1945.
(no relation) contributed arrangements to the ensemble, and
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 ...
played in it in 1946.
Among his hits for
Decca Records
Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
were "
Tenderly
"Tenderly" is a popular song published in 1946 with music by Walter Gross and lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Written in the key of E as a waltz in time, it has since been performed in 4/4 and has become a popular jazz standard. Notable versions have ...
", "
Harlem Nocturne
"Harlem Nocturne" is a jazz standard written by Earle Hagen (music) and Dick Rogers (lyrics) in 1939 for the Ray Noble orchestra, of which they were members. The song was chosen by the big-band leader Randy Brooks the next year as his theme song. ...
",
and "The Man With The Horn", but his
swing-based style and large ensemble were out of step with the times, and his success eroded toward the end of the decade.
He married
Ina Ray Hutton
Ina Ray Hutton (born Odessa Cowan; March 13, 1916 – February 19, 1984) was an American singer, bandleader, and the elder sister of June Hutton. She led one of the first all-female big bands.
Biography
A native of Chicago, Hutton began da ...
and moved to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
,
where he suffered a
stroke
A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...
and was unable to continue as a musician.
He died at the age of 49 of smoke inhalation in a fire at his
Sanford, Maine
Sanford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 21,982 in the 2020 census, making it the seventh largest municipality in the state. Situated on the Mousam River, Sanford includes the village of Springvale. The city ...
, apartment.
He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford, Maine, beside his parents.
Discography
78rpm singles (all on
Decca Decca may refer to:
Music
* Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label
* Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group
* Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label
* Decca Studios, a recording facility in W ...
)
*18697: "I'd Do It All Over Again" (v: Billy Usher) / "Land of the Loon" (v: Billy Usher)
*18703: "I'm Gonna Love That Guy (Like He's Never Been Loved Before)" (with
Marion Hutton
Marion Hutton (born Marion Thornburg; March 10, 1919 – January 10, 1987) was an American singer and actress. She is best remembered for her singing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1938 to 1942. She was the sister of actress and singer ...
) / "No More Toujours L'Amour (Hoya, Hoya)" (with Marion Hutton)
*18713: "A Kiss Goodnight" (with
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...
) / "Benny's Coming Home on Saturday" (with Ella Fitzgerald)
*18752: "In the Moon Mist" (v: Billy Usher) / "Don't Let Me Dream" (v: Billy Usher)
*18844: "Harlem Nocturne" (with Eddie Caine-alto sax) / "Thunder Rock"
*18874: "Without You" (Tres Palabras) (v: Harry Prime) / "Strange Love" (v: Harry Prime)
*18897: "Surrender" (v: Harry Prime) / "One Love" (v: Harry Prime)
*23869: "After Hours" (with
Sammy Price
Samuel Blythe Price (October 6, 1908 – April 14, 1992) was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. Price's playing is dark, mellow, and relaxed rather than percussive, and he was a specialist at creating the ...
-piano) / "Tippin' In"
*23935: "A Night at the Deuces" / "Harlem Nocturne"
eissue*24161: "Tenderley" / "Lamplight" (v: Harry Prime)
*27205: "Holiday Forever" (Brooks' theme song) / "More Than You Know"
*28532: "After Hours"
eissue/ "Tippin' In
eissue*28533: "The Man With The Horn" / "Somebody Loves Me"
*29479: "Thunder Rock"
eissue/ "
How High the Moon
"How High the Moon" is a jazz standard with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis. It was first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue '' Two for the Show'', where it was sung by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock. In ''Two for the Sh ...
"
Albums
*''Trumpet Moods'' (Decca DL-5446
0" LP 1952)
*''Trumpet Moods'' (Decca DL-8201
2" LP 1956) reissue with four additional tracks
CD compilation
*''The Issued Recordings 1945–1947'' (Jazz Band EBCD-2149, 2000)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Randy
1917 births
1967 deaths
American jazz trumpeters
American male trumpeters
American jazz bandleaders
Big band bandleaders
People from Sanford, Maine
20th-century American musicians
20th-century trumpeters
20th-century American male musicians
American male jazz musicians