Ray Wetzel (September 22, 1924 – August 17, 1951) 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 ...

trumpeter. Critic Scott Yanow described him as "greatly admired by his fellow trumpeters".

Career

Wetzel played lead trumpet for

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 ...

from 1943 to 1945 and for

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 ...

from 1945 to 1948. He recorded in 1947 with the Metronome All-Stars, Vido Musso, and

Neal Hefti Neal Paul Hefti (October 29, 1922 – October 11, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger. He wrote music for '' The Odd Couple'' movie and TV series and for the ''Batman'' TV series. He began arranging professionally in his ...

, and married bass player Bonnie Addleman in 1949. While with the

Charlie Barnet Charles Daly Barnet (October 26, 1913 – September 4, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His major recordings were "Skyliner", " Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffl ...

Orchestra in 1949, he played trumpet alongside Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, and Rolf Ericson. He played with his wife in

Tommy Dorsey Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombo ...

's ensemble in 1950 and with Kenton again in 1951. While touring with Dorsey in 1951, he was killed in a car crash at the age of 27. He never recorded as a leader. He is credited with composing the

tune 'Intermission Riff'.

Discography

With

* ''

Artistry in Rhythm ''Artistry in Rhythm'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring performances recorded in 1946 and originally released on the Capitol label as four 78rpm discs, reissued as a LP in 1953, and then as a LP in 1955 with additional ...

'' (Capitol, 1946) * '' Encores'' (Capitol, 1947) * ''

A Presentation of Progressive Jazz ''A Presentation of Progressive Jazz'' is a 1948 jazz album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton. Background The album features performances recorded in 1947 and originally released on the Capitol label as four 78rpm discs, reissued as a 10-inc ...

'' (Capitol, 1947) * ''

Stan Kenton's Milestones ''Stan Kenton's Milestones'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton compiling performances recorded between 1943 and 1947 and originally collected on the Capitol label as a 10-inch LP in 1950 then reissued as a 12-inch LP with additiona ...

'' (Capitol, 1950) * ''

Stan Kenton Classics ''Stan Kenton Classics'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton compiling performances recorded between 1945 and 1947 and originally collected on the Capitol label as a 10-inch LP in 1950 then reissued as a 12-inch LP with additional t ...

'' (Capitol, 1952) * '' Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton'' (Capitol, 1953) * ''

The Kenton Era ''The Kenton Era'' is a compilation album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring recordings from 1940 to 1954 which was originally released in two limited edition box sets, as fifteen 7 inch 45 rpm discs and four 12 inch LPs, on Capitol i ...

'' (Capitol, 1955)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wetzel, Ray 1924 births 1951 deaths 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American musicians 20th-century trumpeters American jazz trumpeters American male jazz musicians American male trumpeters