Don Fagerquist

Career

Fagerquist was a featured soloist with several major bands, including Mal Hallett (1943), Gene Krupa (1944–50), Artie Shaw (1949–50), Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five (1949–50), Woody Herman (1951–52), Les Brown (1953), and the Dave Pell Octet (1953–59). He played on the memorable "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook" album (1963) under the baton of the great Nelson Riddle.

Despite high demand for his services as a lyrical soloist, he only recorded twice as a leader: a half-date for Capitol in 1955 (reissued as part of the Dave Pell Octet CD I Had the Craziest Dream) and a complete project for Mode in 1957 (Music to Fill a Void).

In 1956, Fagerquist signed on as a staff musician for Paramount Films, while still periodically recording with artists such as Shelly Manne, Mel Tormé, and Art Pepper. Throughout the early- to mid-1960s, Fagerquist's solos could be heard on the recordings of Pete Rugolo, Frank Comstock, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Paul Weston, Si Zentner, Dean Martin and many others.

By 1966, health issues forced Fagerquist to withdraw from studio recording altogether. He died from kidney disease at his home in Canoga Park, California, at the age of 46.

Selected discography

With Chet Baker and Bud Shank

With Louis Bellson

With Hoagy Carmichael

With Bob Cooper

With Fred Katz

With Stan Kenton

With Junior Mance

With Dave Pell

With Shorty Rogers

With Pete Rugolo

With Mel Torme

With the Benny Goodman Orchestra & Brussels World's Fair Orchestra

With Skip Martin's Scheherajazz