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{{Otheruses4|the musician and bandleader|the college football coach|Claude E. Thornhill}} {{Otheruses4|the musician and bandleader|the college football coach|Claude E. Thornhill}}
⚫ '''Claude Thornhill''' (10 August 1909 at ] – 1 July 1965, ]) was an ] ], ] and ].

⚫ '''Claude Thornhill''' (*], ] at ] † ], ], ]) was an ] ], ] and ].


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. 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.
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After playing for ], ], ], and ], and arranging "Loch Lomond" and "Annie Laurie" for ], in 1940 he founded his Claude Thornhill Orchestra. ] was his lead clarinet player. 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. After playing for ], ], ], and ], and arranging "Loch Lomond" and "Annie Laurie" for ], in 1940 he founded his Claude Thornhill Orchestra. ] was his lead clarinet player. 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.


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." 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 ] ] as modelled in part on Thornhill's cool sound and use of unconventional instrumentation. The band's most successful records were "Snowfall," "A Sunday Kind of Love," and "Love for Love."


The band ceased operation in 1942 when Thornhill entered the military, where he performed with ]'s ] band, then was revived from 1946 to 1948 in New York and until 1953 on the road. In the mid 1950s Thornhill became ]'s musical director briefly, then toured with small groups. He offered his big band library to ] when Gerry formed the ], but Gerry regretfully 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. The band ceased operation in 1942 when Thornhill entered the military, where he performed with ]'s ] band, then was revived from 1946 to 1948 in New York and until 1953 on the road. In the mid 1950s Thornhill became ]'s musical director briefly, then toured with small groups. He offered his big band library to ] when Gerry formed the ], but Gerry regretfully 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.

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Claude Thornhill
Musical artist This article is about the musician and bandleader. For the college football coach, see Claude E. Thornhill.

Claude Thornhill (10 August 1909 at Terre Haute, Indiana – 1 July 1965, New York City) was an American pianist, arranger and bandleader.

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. As a student at Garfield High School in Terre Haute, he played with several theater bands.

After playing for Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Ray Noble, and Billie Holiday, and arranging "Loch Lomond" and "Annie Laurie" for Maxine Sullivan, in 1940 he founded his Claude Thornhill Orchestra. Danny Polo was his lead clarinet player. Although the Thornhill band was originally a sophisticated dance band it became known for its many superior jazz musicians and for Thornhill's and Gil Evans' innovative arrangements; its "Portrait of a Guinea Farm" has become a classic jazz recording.

The band played without vibrato 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 Miles Davis Nonet as modelled in part on Thornhill's cool sound and use of unconventional instrumentation. The band's most successful records were "Snowfall," "A Sunday Kind of Love," and "Love for Love."

The band ceased operation in 1942 when Thornhill entered the military, where he performed with Artie Shaw's United States Navy band, then was revived from 1946 to 1948 in New York and until 1953 on the road. In the mid 1950s Thornhill became Tony Bennett's musical director briefly, then toured with small groups. He offered his big band library to Gerry Mulligan when Gerry formed the Concert Jazz Band, but Gerry regretfully 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.

External links

  • Template:Amg
  • Christopher Popa, "The Sound Hung Like a Cloud," bigbandlibrary.com
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