Died February 2006 | Genre Jazz | |
Similar Count Basie Orchestra, Robert Clarke, Connie Haines, The King Sisters | ||
Del Courtney was an American bandleader and occasional actor. His band played in the center of the field at San Francisco Giants games.
Contents
Background
Earning the nickname "Old Smoothie" for the smooth dance tunes he and his band would play, he had a career that lasted over seven decades.
Born in 1910, Courtney was originally from Oakland, California. At the age of 9, he started playing piano. He attended UC Berkley,and while there he earned two degrees. One was a master's degree in music and the other a teachers degree. Instead of teaching, the career path he chose was that of a professional musician.
1930s
Having graduated from University, and having formed his first band at the Claremont Hotel, he became immensely popular in the Bay area. He was also getting record deals and contracts for radio shows. During the mid 1930s, he toured Seattle and playing the ballrooms and hotels there. It wasn't the most commercial of ventures so he returned to California. There he recorded regularly and played to full venues.
1940s to 1950s
In the mid 1940s, he was playing at the Blackhawk Restaurant, a popular venue where he was a top-line favorite. In early 1948, Courtney was playing his sixth engagement at the Rose Room at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. At that time, his band consisted of trumpet players, George Rank, Seymour Solk, and Billy Petri. Trombone players were Rick Meyer and Johnny Strong. Saxophonists were Doug Lowery, Rick Sanders, Johnny Shepherd and Ken MacCoulou. The rhythm section consisted of Bob Moonan on Piano, Val Eddy on bass, Mel Severs on guitar, and Ellis Stickey on drums. The vocalists were Gloria Foster and Gil Vester. Lee Zhhito gave him a favorable review in the February 7 issue of The Billboard magazine.
In October 1958, his album Dancing 'Til Daybreak LP, which was released on Capiltol received a favorable review in Billboard. It contained four songs and four medleys.
1960s
On the 3rd of July, 1964, both Courtney and Les Molloy became the owners of radio station KSAN.
1990s
In the mid 1990s, he came out of retirement to occasionally front a big band. This was in response to what has been referred to as the "Swing revival". At the age of 93 but not in the best of health, he was playing once a month.
Death
After a bout pneumonia that he had for a week, he died at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu aged 95 in February 2006.
Film roles
He had part in the 1959 film The Hideous Sun Demon. In the Robert Clarke directed sci-fi, he played the part of a radio DJ.
Songs
Mississippi Dreamboat
Merry Widow Waltz
Babablu