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| '''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". | '''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". | ||
| ==Early years== | ==Early years== | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
| ==Career== | ==Career== | ||
| 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 ] |
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 Cleveland, Ohio, 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> | 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> | ||
| During the mid-1930s, Thornhill arranged and played piano for ].<ref name="lse" /> | During the mid-1930s, Thornhill arranged and played piano for ].<ref name="lse" /> | ||
| 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. 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". | 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. | 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. | ||
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| ===Cover versions of "Snowfall"=== | ===Cover versions of "Snowfall"=== | ||
| The 1941 Claude Thornhill 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: | The 1941 Claude Thornhill 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}} | {{div col}} | ||
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| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{ |
{{Reflist}} | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 21:49, 2 August 2021
American pianist, composer and arranger This article is about the musician and bandleader. For the college football coach, see Claude E. Thornhill.| Claude Thornhill | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Thornhill, ca. 1947 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1908-08-10)August 10, 1908 Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 1, 1965(1965-07-01) (aged 56) Caldwell, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, cool jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader, arranger, composer |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1924–1965 |
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 entered the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music at the age of 16. He also studied at 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
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Claude 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 "Where Has My Little Dog Gone?"
Cover versions of "Snowfall"
The 1941 Claude Thornhill 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:
- Henry Mancini
- Singers Unlimited
- Tony Bennett
- BBC Big Band
- Chris Connor
- Doris Day
- Wes Montgomery
- Kenny Poole and Gene Bertoncini
- Helen Merrill
- Avalanches
- Richie Cole with Hank Crawford
- Eddie South
- Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
- Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra
- Enoch Light and the Light Brigade
- Esquivel
- Billy Vaughn
- George Shearing
- Pete Rugolo
- John Williams and the Boston Pops
- Skitch Henderson and Bucky Pizzarelli
- Ramsey Lewis Trio
- Michael Fortunato
- Dick Hyman
- Four Freshmen
- Eddie Davis
- Ted Heath
- Mike Horsfall
- Paul Plimley
- Emily Remler
- Steve Hall
- Manhattan Transfer
- Cafe Accordion Orchestra
- Howard Alden and Bucky Pizzarelli
- Ahmad Jamal
- Liz Story
- NRBQ
- John Zorn
- The Monkees
References
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 395/6. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- Yanow, Scott. "Claude Thornhill Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- Johnson, David (August 3, 2009). "The Godfather Of Cool". WFIU.
- 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.
- "Claude Thornhill Is Dead at 56". The New York Times. July 2, 1965. p. 29.
External links
- Claude Thornhill biography by Christopher Popa
- Claude Thornhill discography at Discogs
- Claude Thornhill at IMDb
- Claude Thornhill at Find a Grave
- 1908 births
- 1965 deaths
- Cool jazz pianists
- Sweet band musicians
- Big band bandleaders
- American jazz pianists
- American male pianists
- American jazz bandleaders
- American music arrangers
- People from Caldwell, New Jersey
- RCA Victor artists
- People from Terre Haute, Indiana
- Musicians from Indiana
- Musicians from New Jersey
- Musicians from New Rochelle, New York
- United States Navy personnel of World War II
- 20th-century American pianists
- Jazz musicians from New York (state)
- 20th-century American male musicians
- American male jazz musicians
- United States Navy sailors