Conte Candoli, Trumpet, 1927, Mishawaka, In
Conte was the brother of Pete Candoli, also a prominent jazz trumpeter. Conte auditioned for Woody Herman's band in the very early '40s, but was advised by Woody to finish high school before embarking on a career in music. This he did, and then joined the Herman band in 1943. After several years with Woody, Conte joined Chubby Jackson with whom he toured Scandinavia. From 1948-53 he spent most of his time with Stan Kenton. During this period he also managed to record with Charlie Ventura and Charlie Barnet. In 1954 he led his own group in Chicago and later that year moved to Los Angeles. Until 1960 Candoli played at Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse and became very prominent in the West Coast movement. As a freelance he played and recorded with Stan Levey and Terry Gibbs and participated in jazz festivals during the early '60s. He also worked regularly on the West Coast with Shelly Manne until the late '60s when he became a member of Doc Severinson's band on the Tonight Show. One of Conte's major influences was Dizzy Gillespie whom he emulated as a member of Supersax, the group that re-created Charlie Parker's music. Conte and his brother, Pete, co-led a band that continued to perform well into the 1980s. He was also very active as a teacher, and was highly respected by other musicians as a versatile, strong, and sensitive player. Conte Candoli died in 2003.
Will Bradley, Trombone, 1912, Newton, NJ
Will arrived in New York in 1928 and began his professional career with Milt Shaw. In the early '30s he performed and recorded with Red Nichols and then spent a year with Ray Noble. He also worked as a studio player for CBS and several other companies. In 1939 he and Ray McKinley formed a band that became fairly successful performing in clubs and recording. Many of the tunes they played were based on versions of boogie-woogie patterns, and "Beat-Me-Daddy, Eight To The Bar" became a major hit. They disbanded in 1942, and Will once again went to work in the studios and did a considerable amount of freelancing. A highly respected trombonist, Bradley always seemed more comfortable when playing ballads rather than boogie-woogie. His style, much like that of Tommy Dorsey's, was highly polished, with a big, warm tone. He was also very much involved in classical music, which was reflected by his numerous compositions for symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles. His son, Will Bradley Jr., was a highly successful drummer, playing with many prominent bop groups and big-bands of the 1950s.
Bill Cosby, Comedian, 1937, Philadelphia, PA
If Bill Cosby hadn't been one of the most successful comedians of the last 50 years, he would no doubt have been a famous jazz musician. Next to comedy, jazz has been the love of his life. His career has included stand-up comedy, television, films, radio, and books. His generous support of charities and education has made him important and famous throughout the world. Coming from a poor Philadelphia neighborhood, Bill Cosby represents the voice of the vast ordinary world out there. Everyone seems to identify with his characters and his comedy, appealing to young and old alike. Many of his comedy characters are based on his childhood friends. Bill quit school in the 10th grade to join the Navy, and finished high school via a correspondence course while still in the service. Later, while attending Temple University, he supported himself by tending bar, where he was exposed to comedy and jazz, both of which changed the course of his life. He began with small comedy acts of his own that quickly caught on. Word of his talent spread and before long Bill was on his way to national fame via television, records, and films. On the evolution of his own style of comedy, Bill states that he was drawn at an early age to the masters of jazz, learning to emulate in comedy their ability to take an idea and continually find new and innovative ways of expressing the same theme. The legacy of Bill Cosby's comedic genius is as sweet, meaningful and universal as any piece of music ever played..
Paul Gonsalves, Saxophone, 1920, Boston, MA
Paul actually began his "big-time" career in 1946 when he returned from military duty and joined the Count Basie orchestra. He worked with Basie for three years, during which he earned his reputation as a leading saxophonist in the big-band style. He next worked in Dizzy Gillespie's bop oriented big-band for about a year before joining Duke Ellington, where he took the place of Ben Webster. An exciting 27 - chorus improvisation he performed on "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1956, marked his breakthrough to fame in the jazz world, and the beginning of a comeback for the Ellington orchestra, which was at a low-point at this time. Paul remained with Duke for the rest of his career, frequently taking prominent roles in many if the suites that Duke composed. He also recorded frequently as a soloist with other groups, and with groups of his own, from time to time. Gonsalves's playing was in the swinging school of Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, a style he mastered and built upon ,and although famous for his driving solos at fast tempos, he is heard at his best on ballad where he played with a unique breathy tone that was strictly Paul Gonsalves. Paul Gonsalves died in 1974.
