#nick fatool

[spilladabalia]

Peggy Lee with the Dave Barbour Quartet - Why Don't You Do Right

[blewnotes]

Jazziversaries January 2nd

Arthur Prysock (vocal) - 1929-1997 :: was an American jazz singer best known for his live shows and his baritone influenced by Billy Eckstine.

Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Prysock moved to Hartford, Connecticut to work in the aircraft industry during World War II. In 1944 bandleader Buddy Johnson signed him as a vocalist, and Prysock became a mainstay of the live performance circuits.Prysock sang on several of Johnson’s hits on Decca Records (“Jet My Love”, 1947 and “I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone”, 1948) and later on Mercury Records (“Because”, 1950).

In 1952 Prysock went solo and signed with Decca to record the R&B hit, “I Didn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night”. He recorded R&B classics such as Roy Brown’s “Good Rocking Tonight”. In the 1960s, Prysock joined Old Town Records and did an R&B cover of Ray Noble's ballad “The Very Thought of You” (1960) and a pop hit “It’s Too Late Baby, It’s Too Late” (1965). For Verve Records he recorded Arthur Prysock and Count Basie, and A Working Man’s Prayer (1968). He read verses from Walter Benton’s book of poems against a jazz instrumental backdrop on his 1968 album, This is My Beloved.

In the 1970s, Prysock had a surprise disco hit with “When Love Is New” (Old Town, 1977) and in 1985, recorded his first new album in almost a decade, Arthur Prysock (Milestone). He gained further attention for his tender, soulful singing on a beer commercial, “Tonight, tonight, let it be Löwenbräu.”

His brother, Red Prysock, was a noted tenor sax player who appeared on many of Arthur’s records.

Prysock received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1995.

Little Smokey Smothers (guitar) 1939-2010 :: Little Smokey Smothers was an African American, Chicago blues guitarist and singer. His elder brother, Otis (died 1993), was known as the bluesman Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers, with whom he was sometimes confused.

Albert Abraham "Abe" Smothers was born in Tchula, Mississippi,learned guitar at the age of 15, and relocated to Chicago two years later. He soon appeared on stage playing alongside Arthur “Big Boy” Spires, Magic Sam, Otis Rush and Lazy Bill Lucas. In 1958 he joined up with Howlin' Wolf, and played on Wolf's recording session for Chess Records the following year. Tracks Smothers contributed to included "I've Been Abused," "Howlin' for My Darling," and "Mr. Airplane Man."

In 1961 he founded Little Smokey Smothers and the Pipeplayers. He later met Paul Butterfield and became a founding member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. He was replaced in the band by Elvin Bishop, but developed a friendship that lasted a lifetime. Throughout the 1960s Smothers appeared with Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Earl Hooker, and Junior Wells Musical opportunities dried up in the 1970s, and Smothers worked in construction. He recorded again, after several years break, in 1979 as part of Mojo Buford's Chicago Blues Summit album. He re-appeared in the 1980s with The Legendary Blues Band. Their 1989 recording, Woke up with the Blues, included contributions from Smothers.

In 1993, Bishop made a guest appearance on Smothers first solo album with the Dutch Black Magic label, Bossman! The Chicago Blues of Little Smokey Smothers. The recording also included work from Smothers' cousin, Lee "Shot" Williams. Bishop and Smothers played at the 1993 Chicago Blues Festival. Smothers had open heart surgery in 1995, but the following year issued Second Time Around. Smothers performed at the 1999 San Diego Blues Festival, and at a party for Mick Jagger's 55th birthday.

Alligator Records then issued That's My Partner (2000), a live album recorded in San Francisco, which saw Smothers reunited with Bishop. Smothers also appeared at the 2000 Chicago Blues Festival. He also featured in Martin Scorsese's 2003 television series The Blues, with excerpts from his live show. In 2006 Smothers and Bishop played live at the Ground Zero club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Latterly Smothers experienced health problems, and had both legs amputated due to diabetes.

In 2009, Bishop compiled the benefit album, Chicago Blues Buddies, incorporating recordings made by Smothers and Bishop dating back to 1992. Proceeds from the album helped to pay for Smothers' medical costs

Nick Fatool (drums) - 1915-2000 :: was an American jazz drummer.

Fatool first played professionally in Providence, Rhode Island, which he followed with time in Joe Haymes’s band in 1937 and Don Beston's in Dallas soon after. In 1939 he played with Bobby Hackett briefly, and then became a member of the Benny Goodman Orchestra. He became one of the most visible drummers of the 1940s, playing with Artie Shaw (1940-41), Alvino Rey (1942-43), Claude Thornhill, Les Brown, and Jan Savitt. In 1943 he moved to Los Angeles and took work as a session musician, recording profusely. Credits include Harry James, Erroll Garner (1946), Louis Armstrong (1949, 1951), Jess Stacy, Tommy Dorsey, Matty Matlock, and Glen Gray. He began an association with Bob Crosby, playing with him regularly between 1949 and 1951 and occasionally with Crosby's Bobcats into the 1970s.

Between January 7, 1944 and April 23, 1958 Nick Fatool played on sessions for the following Capitol Records artists: The Capitol Jazzmen, Charles LaVere, Eddie Miller and His Orchestra, Ella Mae Morse, Johnny Mercer, Betty Hutton, Paul Weston and His Orchestra, Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers, Peggy Lee, Dave Matthews and His Orchestra, Billy May and His Orchestra, Freddie Slack, Nat “King” Cole, Jesse Price and His Orchestra, Dave Barbour and His Orchestra, Wingy Manone, Andy Russell, Benny Goodman, Margaret Whiting, The Starlighters, Jerry Colonna, Dean Martin, Gordon MacRae, The Marvin Ash Trio, Ray Turner, Pete Kelly and His Big Seven, Maggie Jackson, Bob Crosby and His Orchestra, The Dinning Sisters, Jeanne Gayle, Joe “Fingers” Carr and His Ragtime Band, Red Nichols and His Aaugmented Pennies, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ray Anthony and His Orchestra, Bobby Hackett and His Jazz Band, Jack Teagarden, Glen Gray and His Casa Loma Orchestra, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Standley, Andy Griffith, and Robert Mitchum.

In the 1950s and 1960s Fatool found much work on the Dixieland jazz revival circuit, playing with Pete Fountain from 1962-1965 and the Dukes of Dixieland. His only session as a bandleader was as the head of a septet in 1987, leading Eddie Miller, Johnny Mince, Ernie Carson, and others.

 Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews (trombone) 1986 :: Happy birthday to Troy Andrews, also known by the stage name Trombone Shorty, is a trombone and trumpet player from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He has worked in jazz, funk and rap music. Andrews is the younger brother of trumpeter and bandleader James Andrews as well as the grandson of singer and songwriter Jessie Hill. Andrews began playing trombone at age six, and since 2009 has toured with his own band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

Andrews was born in New Orleans. He grew up in its Tremé neighborhood, and participated in brass band parades as a child, becoming a bandleader by the age of six.

In his teens, Andrews was a member of the Stooges Brass Band, recording and playing with the band. He attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA).

In 2005, Andrews was a featured member of Lenny Kravitz's horn section in a world tour that shared billing with acts including Aerosmith.

Six weeks after the levees failed in New Orleans on August 29, 2005, some of the city's greatest musicians came to Austin, Texas, to record a benefit CD called Sing Me Back Home at Wire Studios with producers Leo Sacks and Ray Bardani. With their lives in transition, the collective became known as The New Orleans Social Club. Andrews was the featured guest on "Hey Troy, Your Mama's Calling You," a tribute to "Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Calling You" which was a Latin-jazz-soul hit for the Jimmy Castor Bunch on Smash Records in 1966. Andrews also performed on "Where Y'At" as part of The Sixth Ward All-Star Brass Band Revue featuring Charles Neville of The Neville Brothers.

As of 2009, his current project is Orleans Avenue, a funk/pop/hip-hop mix including musicians Mike Ballard on bass, Dan Oestreicher on baritone sax, Tim McFatter on tenor sax, Pete Murano on guitar and Joey Peebles on drums.

In 2010 Andrews released Backatown (Verve Forecast), which hit Billboard magazine's Contemporary Jazz Chart at No. 1 and stayed there for nine consecutive weeks.

In September 2011, Andrews released the album For True as a follow up to his earlier album Backatown. Along with all the members of his band, Orleans Avenue, this record includes appearances by the Rebirth Brass Band, Jeff Beck, Warren Haynes, Stanton Moore, Kid Rock, Ben Ellman and Lenny Kravitz as a returning guest artist.

[blewnotes]

Jazziversaries January 2nd

Arthur Prysock (vocal) - 1929-1997 :: was an American jazz singer best known for his live shows and his baritone influenced by Billy Eckstine.

Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Prysock moved to Hartford, Connecticut to work in the aircraft industry during World War II. In 1944 bandleader Buddy Johnson signed him as a vocalist, and Prysock became a mainstay of the live performance circuits.Prysock sang on several of Johnson’s hits on Decca Records ("Jet My Love", 1947 and "I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone", 1948) and later on Mercury Records ("Because", 1950).

In 1952 Prysock went solo and signed with Decca to record the R&B hit, "I Didn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night". He recorded R&B classics such as Roy Brown's "Good Rocking Tonight". In the 1960s, Prysock joined Old Town Records and did an R&B cover of Ray Noble's ballad "The Very Thought of You" (1960) and a pop hit "It’s Too Late Baby, It’s Too Late" (1965). For Verve Records he recorded Arthur Prysock and Count Basie (12, 13, 14, 20 and 21 December 1965, at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey), and A Working Man's Prayer (1968). He read verses from Walter Benton's book of poems against a jazz instrumental backdrop on his 1968 album, This is My Beloved.

In the 1970s, Prysock had a surprise disco hit with "When Love Is New" (Old Town, 1977) and in 1985, recorded his first new album in almost a decade, Arthur Prysock (Milestone). He gained further attention for his tender, soulful singing on a beer commercial, "Tonight, tonight, let it be Löwenbräu."

His brother, Red Prysock, was a noted tenor sax player who appeared on many of Arthur's records.

Prysock received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1995.

Nick Fatool (drums) - 1915-2000 :: was an American jazz drummer.

Fatool first played professionally in Providence, Rhode Island, which he followed with time in Joe Haymes's band in 1937 and Don Beston's in Dallas soon after. In 1939 he played with Bobby Hackett briefly, and then became a member of the Benny Goodman Orchestra. He became one of the most visible drummers of the 1940s, playing with Artie Shaw (1940-41), Alvino Rey (1942-43), Claude Thornhill, Les Brown, and Jan Savitt. In 1943 he moved to Los Angeles and took work as a session musician, recording profusely. Credits include Harry James, Erroll Garner (1946), Louis Armstrong (1949, 1951), Jess Stacy, Tommy Dorsey, Matty Matlock, and Glen Gray. He began an association with Bob Crosby, playing with him regularly between 1949 and 1951 and occasionally with Crosby's Bobcats into the 1970s.

Between January 7, 1944 and April 23, 1958 Nick Fatool played on sessions for the following Capitol Records artists: The Capitol Jazzmen, Charles LaVere, Eddie Miller and His Orchestra, Ella Mae Morse, Johnny Mercer, Betty Hutton, Paul Weston and His Orchestra, Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers, Peggy Lee, Dave Matthews and His Orchestra, Billy May and His Orchestra, Freddie Slack, Nat "King" Cole, Jesse Price and His Orchestra, Dave Barbour and His Orchestra, Wingy Manone, Andy Russell, Benny Goodman, Margaret Whiting, The Starlighters, Jerry Colonna, Dean Martin, Gordon MacRae, The Marvin Ash Trio, Ray Turner, Pete Kelly and His Big Seven, Maggie Jackson, Bob Crosby and His Orchestra, The Dinning Sisters, Jeanne Gayle, Joe "Fingers" Carr and His Ragtime Band, Red Nichols and His Aaugmented Pennies, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ray Anthony and His Orchestra, Bobby Hackett and His Jazz Band, Jack Teagarden, Glen Gray and His Casa Loma Orchestra, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Standley, Andy Griffith, and Robert Mitchum.

In the 1950s and 1960s Fatool found much work on the Dixieland jazz revival circuit, playing with Pete Fountain from 1962-1965 and the Dukes of Dixieland. His only session as a bandleader was as the head of a septet in 1987, leading Eddie Miller, Johnny Mince, Ernie Carson, and others.

Two unsung stars of the jazziverse for us today. Starting the new year in an understated tone.

All you early birthday Jazzlings here we know you aren't likely to have an understated birthday so enjoy your day and rememeber to take a moment to plan for your successes throughout the coming year!

Thanks as always to AAJ & JBC for the guidance

Respect to the You Tube Massive for the uploads

Big hugs, cuddles and shoulder bumps to the blog followers, thank you fro your support

And thanks to You for passin' thru'

Walk tall,

Speak low,

Go placidly,

Geo