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{{short description|American pianist, composer and arranger}}
'''Claude Thornhill''' (*], ] at ] † ], ], ]) was an ] ], ] and ].
{{about|the musician and bandleader|the college football coach|Claude E. Thornhill}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Claude Thornhill
| image = Claude Thornhill (Gottlieb 08531).jpg
| caption = Thornhill, ca. 1947
| birth_date = {{birth date|1908|8|10}}
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1965|7|1|1908|8|10}}
| death_place = ], U.S.
| genre = ], ]
| occupation = Musician, bandleader, arranger, composer
| instrument = Piano
| years_active = 1924–1965
| spouse = {{marriage |Ruth Thornhill |1952}}
| associated_acts = ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
}}


'''Claude Thornhill''' (August 10, 1908 – July 1, 1965)<ref name="LarkinJazz">{{cite book|title=]|editor=]|publisher=]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-580-8|pages=395/6}}</ref> was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. He composed the jazz and pop standards "Snowfall" and "I Wish I Had You".
As a youth, he was recognized as an ] and formed a traveling duo with ] a musical prodigy on the clarinet and trumpet from nearby ]. As a student at Garfield High School in Terre Haute, he played with several theater bands.


==Early years==
After playing for ], ], ], and ], and arranging "Loch Lomond" and "Annie Laurie" for ], in 1940 he founded his Claude Thornhill Orchestra. Although the Thornhill band was originally a sophisticated dance band it became known for its many superior ] musicians and for Thornhill's and ]' innovative arrangements; its "Portrait of a Guinea Farm" has become a classic jazz recording.
Thornhill was the son of J. Chester Thornhill and his wife, Maude. When he was 11 years old, he played piano professionally. While still a youth, he played with two local combos.<ref name="ah">{{cite book |last1=Roznowski |first1=Tom |title=An American Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana, 1927 |date=2009 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-00503-8 |pages=226–227 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LKKHkdXpD58C&q=%22Claude+Thornhill%22&pg=PA227 |access-date=March 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> As a student at Garfield High School in Terre Haute, he played with several theater bands. Thornhill studied at the ]<ref name="Schiedt">{{cite book |last1=Schiedt |first1=Duncan |title=The Jazz State of Indiana |date=1977 |publisher=Duncan Schiedt |page=230}}</ref> and the ] in Philadelphia.<ref name="lse">{{cite book |last1=McClellan |first1=Lawrence |title=The Later Swing Era, 1942 to 1955 |date=2004 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-30157-5 |pages=76–79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oit7y0bS4MUC&q=%22Claude+Thornhill%22&pg=PA76 |access-date=March 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>


==Career==
The band played without ] so that the timbres of the instruments could be better appreciated, and Thornhill encouraged the musicians to develop cool-sounding tones. The band was popular with both musicians and the public; the ] Nonet was modelled in part on Thornhill's cool sound. The band's most successful records were "Snowfall," "A Sunday Kind of Love," and "Love for Love."
As a youth, he was recognized as an extraordinary talent and formed a traveling duo with ], a musical prodigy on the clarinet and trumpet from nearby ].


He and clarinetist ] started their careers at the Golden Pheasant in ], ], with the ] Orchestra. Thornhill and Shaw went to New York together in 1931. Thornhill went to the West Coast in the late 1930s with the ] Radio Show and arranged for ] in '']''. In 1935, he played on sessions with ], including "]", which was released on ]. He also played with ], ], ], and ]. He arranged "]" and "]" for ].<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=claude-thornhill-mn0000143405 |tab=biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Claude Thornhill Biography |first=Scott |last=Yanow |author-link=Scott Yanow |publisher=] |website=] |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>
The band ceased operation in 1942 when Thornhill entered the military, where he performed with ]'s ] band, then was revived from 1946 to 1948 at New York. In the ] Thornhill became ]'s musical director, then toured with small groups.


During the mid-1930s, Thornhill arranged and played piano for ].<ref name="lse" />
== External link ==
*{{amg|id=11:gifixqy5ldse|label=Claude Thornhill}}
*Christopher Popa, "The Sound Hing Like a Cloud,"


In 1939, he founded the Claude Thornhill Orchestra. Polo was his lead clarinet player. Although the Thornhill band was a sophisticated dance band, it became known for its superior ] musicians and for Thornhill's and ]'s arrangements.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/claude-thornhill-godfather-cool/ |title=The Godfather Of Cool |first=David |last=Johnson |website=] |date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> The band played without ], so that the timbres of the instruments could be better appreciated.<ref name="LarkinJazz"/> Thornhill encouraged the musicians to develop cool-sounding tones. The band was popular with both musicians and the public. ]'s '']'' nonet was modeled in part on Thornhill's sound and unconventional instrumentation. The band's most successful records were "Snowfall", "]", and "Love for Love".
]
]
]
]
]


Thornhill was playing at the Paramount Theater in New York for $10,000 a week{{Citation needed |date=March 2020}} when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an apprentice seaman on October 26, 1942.<ref name=lse/> As chief musician, he performed shows across the Pacific Theater with ] as his drummer and ] as his vocalist.
]

In 1946, he was discharged from the Navy and reunited his ensemble. Polo, ], and ] returned with new members, ], ], ], and ].{{Citation needed |date=March 2020}} Thornhill and his orchestra played for the ''Judy, Jill and Johnny'' variety program on radio on the ] in 1946–1947.<ref name="rp">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows|date=1999|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|isbn=978-0-7864-4513-4|page=183}}</ref>

In 1957, Thornhill became ]'s musical director.<ref name=ah/> He offered his big band library to ] when Mulligan formed the Concert Jazz Band, but Mulligan declined the gift, since his instrumentation was different. A large portion of his extensive library of music is currently held by ] in ].{{Citation needed |date=March 2020}}

Thornhill died of a ] in Caldwell, New Jersey, at the age of 56.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/07/02/archives/claude-thornhill-is-dead-at-56-pianist-led-band-in-swing-era.html |title=Claude Thornhill Is Dead at 56 |newspaper=] |page=29 |date=July 2, 1965 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1984, he was posthumously inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.

==Compositions ==
], ], ], Louis Mucci, ], ], and ], ca. 1947.]]
Thornhill's compositions included the standard "Snowfall", "I Wish I Had You", recorded by ] and ], "Let's Go", "Shore Road", "Portrait of a Guinea Farm", "Lodge Podge", "Rustle of Spring", "It's Time for Us to Part", "It Was a Lover and His Lass", "The Little Red Man", "Memory of an Island", and a big band arrangement of the folk song "Where Has My Little Dog Gone?"

===Cover versions of "Snowfall"===
Thornhill's 1941 piano composition "Snowfall", later had lyrics written by his wife, Ruth Thornhill. It has been recorded in vocal and non-vocal versions by the following artists:

{{div col}}
* ] and ]
* ]{{clarify|date=May 2023|reason=The Avalanches?}}
* ]
* ]
* Cafe Accordion Orchestra
* ] with ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* Michael Fortunato
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] and the ]
* Steve Hall
* ]
* ] and ]
* Mike Horsfall
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] and the Light Brigade
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] and His Orchestra
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* Kenny Poole and ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] and the ]
* ]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* biography by Christopher Popa
*{{Discogs artist|313126-Claude-Thornhill}}
*{{IMDb name|1033127}}
*{{Find a Grave|7520632}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornhill, Claude}}
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Latest revision as of 22:30, 31 May 2024

American pianist, composer and arranger This article is about the musician and bandleader. For the college football coach, see Claude E. Thornhill.
Claude Thornhill
Thornhill, ca. 1947Thornhill, ca. 1947
Background information
Born(1908-08-10)August 10, 1908
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 1, 1965(1965-07-01) (aged 56)
Caldwell, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresJazz, cool jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader, arranger, composer
InstrumentPiano
Years active1924–1965
Spouse Ruth Thornhill ​(m. 1952)​
Musical artist

Claude Thornhill (August 10, 1908 – July 1, 1965) was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. He composed the jazz and pop standards "Snowfall" and "I Wish I Had You".

Early years

Thornhill was the son of J. Chester Thornhill and his wife, Maude. When he was 11 years old, he played piano professionally. While still a youth, he played with two local combos. As a student at Garfield High School in Terre Haute, he played with several theater bands. Thornhill studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

Career

As a youth, he was recognized as an extraordinary talent and formed a traveling duo with Danny Polo, a musical prodigy on the clarinet and trumpet from nearby Clinton, Indiana.

He and clarinetist Artie Shaw started their careers at the Golden Pheasant in Cleveland, Ohio, with the Austin Wylie Orchestra. Thornhill and Shaw went to New York together in 1931. Thornhill went to the West Coast in the late 1930s with the Bob Hope Radio Show and arranged for Judy Garland in Babes in Arms. In 1935, he played on sessions with Glenn Miller, including "Solo Hop", which was released on Columbia Records. He also played with Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Ray Noble, and Billie Holiday. He arranged "Loch Lomond" and "Annie Laurie" for Maxine Sullivan.

During the mid-1930s, Thornhill arranged and played piano for Andre Kostelanetz.

In 1939, he founded the Claude Thornhill Orchestra. Polo was his lead clarinet player. Although the Thornhill band was a sophisticated dance band, it became known for its superior jazz musicians and for Thornhill's and Gil Evans's arrangements. The band played without vibrato, so that the timbres of the instruments could be better appreciated. Thornhill encouraged the musicians to develop cool-sounding tones. The band was popular with both musicians and the public. Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool nonet was modeled in part on Thornhill's sound and unconventional instrumentation. The band's most successful records were "Snowfall", "A Sunday Kind of Love", and "Love for Love".

Thornhill was playing at the Paramount Theater in New York for $10,000 a week when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an apprentice seaman on October 26, 1942. As chief musician, he performed shows across the Pacific Theater with Jackie Cooper as his drummer and Dennis Day as his vocalist.

In 1946, he was discharged from the Navy and reunited his ensemble. Polo, Gerry Mulligan, and Barry Galbraith returned with new members, Red Rodney, Lee Konitz, Joe Shulman, and Bill Barber. Thornhill and his orchestra played for the Judy, Jill and Johnny variety program on radio on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1946–1947.

In 1957, Thornhill became Tony Bennett's musical director. He offered his big band library to Gerry Mulligan when Mulligan formed the Concert Jazz Band, but Mulligan declined the gift, since his instrumentation was different. A large portion of his extensive library of music is currently held by Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.

Thornhill died of a heart attack in Caldwell, New Jersey, at the age of 56. In 1984, he was posthumously inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.

Compositions

Claude Thornill Orchestra with Joe Shulman, Danny Polo, Lee Konitz, Louis Mucci, Barry Galbraith, Bill Barber, and Billy Exiner, ca. 1947.

Thornhill's compositions included the standard "Snowfall", "I Wish I Had You", recorded by Billie Holiday and Fats Waller, "Let's Go", "Shore Road", "Portrait of a Guinea Farm", "Lodge Podge", "Rustle of Spring", "It's Time for Us to Part", "It Was a Lover and His Lass", "The Little Red Man", "Memory of an Island", and a big band arrangement of the folk song "Where Has My Little Dog Gone?"

Cover versions of "Snowfall"

Thornhill's 1941 piano composition "Snowfall", later had lyrics written by his wife, Ruth Thornhill. It has been recorded in vocal and non-vocal versions by the following artists:

References

  1. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 395/6. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ Roznowski, Tom (2009). An American Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana, 1927. Indiana University Press. pp. 226–227. ISBN 978-0-253-00503-8. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  3. Schiedt, Duncan (1977). The Jazz State of Indiana. Duncan Schiedt. p. 230.
  4. ^ McClellan, Lawrence (2004). The Later Swing Era, 1942 to 1955. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 76–79. ISBN 978-0-313-30157-5. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  5. Yanow, Scott. "Claude Thornhill Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  6. Johnson, David (August 3, 2009). "The Godfather Of Cool". WFIU.
  7. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  8. "Claude Thornhill Is Dead at 56". The New York Times. July 2, 1965. p. 29.

External links

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