Buddy Morrow

His life

Morrow was once a member of the Tonight Show Band. His early 1950s records such as "Rose, Rose, I Love You" and "Night Train" appeared in the US Billboard charts. "Night Train" reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1953. In 1959 and 1960 Morrow's Orchestra released two albums of American television theme songs; Impact and Double Impact respectively.

In 2009, Morrow was awarded the International Trombone Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, an award that is given to a person who has significantly changed trombone playing around the world.

Morrow led the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 1977 through September 24, 2010, when he appeared with the band for the final time. Morrow died in the morning on September 27, 2010 Buddy Morrow is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, Rho Tau chapter at Appalachian State University.

Early days

On a scholarship at age 16, Morrow studied trombone with Ernest Horatio Clarke (1865–1947) at Juilliard (known then as the Institute of Musical Art) from October to December 1936. At age 17, he began playing trombone with Sharkey Bonano's Sharks of Rhythm, an Eddie Condon group, recording compositions:

1. Mudhole Blues by Sharkey Bonano and Irving Fazola, Vocalion, 3353 (Oct 7, 1936)
2. Swing In Swing Out, by David Winstein, Vocalion, 3353 (Oct 7, 1936)
3. I'm Satisfied With My Gal, by Sharkey Bonano, Vocalion, 3380 (Oct 7, 1936)
4. High Society, by A.J. Piron, Clarence Williams, Porter Steele, Vocalion, 3380 (Oct 7, 1936)
5. When You're Smiling, by Fisher, Joe Goodwin, & Larry Shay, Vocalion, 3400 (Dec 4, 1936)
6. Mr. Brown Goes to Town, by David Winstein, Vocalion, 3400 (Dec 4, 1936)
7. Was It Clean?, by Sharkey Bonano] Vocalion, 3410 (Dec 4, 1936)
8. Blowing Off Steam, by David Winstein, Vocalion, 3410 (Dec 4, 1936)
9. Big Boy Blue, by Peter Tincturin, Jack Lawrence, Dan Howell, Vocalion, 3450 (Jan 29, 1937)
10. Old Fashioned Swing, by Winston Tharp & Joe Bishop, Vocalion, 3450 (Jan 29, 1937)
11. Swing Like a Rusty Gate, by David Winstein, Vocalion, 3470 (Jan 29, 1937)
12. Swingin' On The Swanee Shore, by Dave Cavanaugh, Don Redman, David, Vocalion, 3470 (Jan 29, 1937)

He then moved on to big bands, first Eddie Duchin, then Vincent Lopez. He eventually graduated to swing bands, first with Artie Shaw. He first became Muni Morrow, then Buddy Morrow, when he joined the Tommy Dorsey trombone section in 1938. In 1939, he performed with Paul Whiteman's Concert Orchestra for their Decca/Brunswick recording of Gershwin's Concerto in F.

In 1940, Morrow joined his former Shaw bandmate Tony Pastor and his band for a little while, but this was only a short detour on his way to replacing Ray Conniff in the Bob Crosby band. Shortly after, he joined the US Navy, during which he recorded with Billy Butterfield leading a ten-piece band with three trombones — all accompanying Red McKenzie singing four arrangements, including "Sweet Lorraine" and "It's the talk of the Town."

After demobilization, Morrow joined Jimmy Dorsey's band, then went into radio freelancing as a studio musician. He began conducting odd sessions, which introduced him to bandleading. RCA Victor sponsored him as director of his own band in 1951. The band's first hit — "Night Train" by Jimmy Forrest — was a crossover into rhythm and blues.

Selected compositions

Selected discography

As sideman

With Gato Barbieri

With Count Basie