Difference between revisions of "Maynard Ferguson"
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Canadian born jazz trumpet player and band leader known for his ability to play extremely high notes. Many of his concerts were held to benefit high school & college music programs. | Canadian born jazz trumpet player and band leader known for his ability to play extremely high notes. Many of his concerts were held to benefit high school & college music programs. | ||
| − | He began playing the trumpet at 9 | + | He began playing the trumpet at 9 (1937). From 1943-1948 he attended the French Conservatory of Music. In 1944 he guested with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Orchestra. He joined the Jimmy Dorsey Orchsetra in March of 1949, and in 1950, joined the Stan Kenton orchestra. While he wasn't the lead trumpet player, he was featured as a high note specialist with the 'Innovations Orchestra', especially on the track titled simply 'Maynard Ferguson', one of a series of numbers featuring different band members. |
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| + | He won the 'downbeat' reader's poll as best trumpet player from 1951-1953. | ||
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| + | In 1959 he performed Bill Russo's 'Titan Symphony' with the New York Philharmonic, directed by Leonard Bernstein. | ||
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| + | In 1976 her played at the closing cerimonies for the Olympic games at Montreal. | ||
Maynard spent time in Hollywood as well, performing in nearly 50 movies, including 'The Ten Commandments'. | Maynard spent time in Hollywood as well, performing in nearly 50 movies, including 'The Ten Commandments'. | ||
| − | In the 70's, he achieved his greatest commercial success with his recording of 'Gonna Fly Now', the theme from Rocky, which broke into the top 30 on the pop charts, and the album, Conquistador, was nominated for a Grammy. | + | In the 70's, he achieved his greatest commercial success with his 1977 recording of 'Gonna Fly Now', the theme from Rocky, which broke into the top 30 on the pop charts, and the album, Conquistador, was nominated for a Grammy. |
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| + | In 1992 he was elected into the downbeat Hall of Fame. | ||
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| + | In 1993 he was inducted into the IAJE Hall of Fame | ||
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| + | In 1997 he was awarded the Canadian Juno Lifetime Achievement Award | ||
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| + | In 2000 he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in conjuction with the launch of the Maynard Ferguson Institute of Jazz Studies at Rowan University. | ||
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| + | In 2004, the Maynard Ferguson Scholarship was started at the University of Missour- St Louis. | ||
| + | Also in 2004 he was awarded the Order of Canada. | ||
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| + | In July of 2006 he was awarded the Charles E Lutton Man of Music award. | ||
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| + | His final album 'The One & Only' was recorded from July 24-28, 2007. | ||
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| + | The last thing he played was 'taps' for his daughter's 17 year old cat. | ||
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| + | Maynard also designed 2 unique instruments: The Firebird, a combination valve/slide trumpet, and the Superbone, a valve/slide trombone. | ||
Revision as of 03:04, April 9, 2007
Maynard Ferguson (May 4, 1928-August 23, 2006)
Canadian born jazz trumpet player and band leader known for his ability to play extremely high notes. Many of his concerts were held to benefit high school & college music programs.
He began playing the trumpet at 9 (1937). From 1943-1948 he attended the French Conservatory of Music. In 1944 he guested with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Orchestra. He joined the Jimmy Dorsey Orchsetra in March of 1949, and in 1950, joined the Stan Kenton orchestra. While he wasn't the lead trumpet player, he was featured as a high note specialist with the 'Innovations Orchestra', especially on the track titled simply 'Maynard Ferguson', one of a series of numbers featuring different band members.
He won the 'downbeat' reader's poll as best trumpet player from 1951-1953.
In 1959 he performed Bill Russo's 'Titan Symphony' with the New York Philharmonic, directed by Leonard Bernstein.
In 1976 her played at the closing cerimonies for the Olympic games at Montreal.
Maynard spent time in Hollywood as well, performing in nearly 50 movies, including 'The Ten Commandments'.
In the 70's, he achieved his greatest commercial success with his 1977 recording of 'Gonna Fly Now', the theme from Rocky, which broke into the top 30 on the pop charts, and the album, Conquistador, was nominated for a Grammy.
In 1992 he was elected into the downbeat Hall of Fame.
In 1993 he was inducted into the IAJE Hall of Fame
In 1997 he was awarded the Canadian Juno Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2000 he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in conjuction with the launch of the Maynard Ferguson Institute of Jazz Studies at Rowan University.
In 2004, the Maynard Ferguson Scholarship was started at the University of Missour- St Louis. Also in 2004 he was awarded the Order of Canada.
In July of 2006 he was awarded the Charles E Lutton Man of Music award.
His final album 'The One & Only' was recorded from July 24-28, 2007.
The last thing he played was 'taps' for his daughter's 17 year old cat.
Maynard also designed 2 unique instruments: The Firebird, a combination valve/slide trumpet, and the Superbone, a valve/slide trombone.
