Charlie Ventura
American saxophonist and bandleader (1916–1992)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charlie Ventura (born Charles Venturo; December 2, 1916 – January 17, 1992)[1] was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and bandleader from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
December 2, 1916
Charlie Ventura | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Charlie Ventura, New York City, c. October 1946 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Charles Venturo December 2, 1916 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 1992 (aged 75) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Tenor saxophone |
| Years active | 1940s–1980s |
| Labels | |
Career
During the 1940s, Ventura played saxophone for the bands of Gene Krupa and Teddy Powell.[2] In 1945, he was named best tenor saxophonist by DownBeat magazine.[2][3] He led a band which included Conte Candoli, Bennie Green, Boots Mussulli, Ed Shaughnessy, Jackie Cain, and Roy Kral.[2] He led big bands in the 1940s and 1950s and formed the Big Four with Buddy Rich, Marty Napoleon, and Chubby Jackson.[2] Ventura was a sideman with Krupa through the 1960s, then worked in Las Vegas with comedian Jackie Gleason.[2]
Ventura died of lung cancer in 1992.[2] His great-grandson is the musician MJ Lenderman.[4]
Discography
As leader
- Stomping with the Sax (Crystalette, 1950)
- Gene Norman Presents a Charlie Ventura Concert (Decca, 1953)
- F.Y.I. (EmArcy, 1954)
- In Concert (GNP, 1954)
- An Evening with Charlie Ventura and Mary Ann McCall (Norgran, 1954)
- Another Evening with Charlie Ventura and Mary Ann McCall (Norgran, 1954)
- Jumping with Ventura (EmArcy, 1955)
- An Evening with Mary Ann McCall and Charlie Ventura (Norgran, 1955)
- Charlie Ventura's Carnegie Hall Concert (Norgran, 1955)
- The New Charlie Ventura in Hi-Fi (Baton, 1956)
- Plays Hi-Fi Jazz (Tops, 1957)
- Crazy Rhythms (Regent, 1957)
- Adventure with Charlie (King, 1957)
- Here's Charlie (Brunswick, 1957)
- East of Suez (Regent, 1958)
- A Battle of Saxes (King, 1959)
- Plays for the People (Craftsmen, 1960)
- Live at the 3 Deuces! (Phoenix Jazz, 1975)
- Aces at the Deuces (Phoenix Jazz, 1976)