Dick Cathcart
Encyclopedia
Charles Richard Cathcart (November 6, 1924 – November 8, 1993) was an American
Dixieland
trumpet player.
Born and raised in Michigan City
, Indiana
; Cathcart was best known as a member of the Lawrence Welk
orchestra, in which he appeared on the Maestro's television program from 1962 to 1968. Before that, he played with bands led by Ray Noble
and Ben Pollack
and had stints with Bob Crosby
and Alvino Rey
. He also worked as a studio musician for MGM Studios from 1946 to 1949.
Cathcart was also close friends with actor/producer Jack Webb
, whom he met while they both served in World War II
. He later provided the music on Webb's radio and television series Dragnet
, and made his acting debut in the movie version as well. He also appeared in Webb's other film Pete Kelly's Blues in which he played a cornet
player.
He joined the Welk orchestra in 1962 as a trumpet player, and also sang with the Curt Ramsey Quintet as well. In 1964, he married Peggy Lennon
of the Lennon Sisters, and would have six children along with the three he had from his first marriage.
After leaving Welk, Cathcart continued performing with several other Dixieland Jazz bands until his death from cancer
in 1993, aged 69.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Dixieland
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
trumpet player.
Born and raised in Michigan City
Michigan City
Michigan City may refer to:* Michigan City, California* Michigan City, Indiana* Michigan City, Mississippi* Michigan City, North Dakota...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
; Cathcart was best known as a member of the Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
orchestra, in which he appeared on the Maestro's television program from 1962 to 1968. Before that, he played with bands led by Ray Noble
Ray Noble (musician)
Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day...
and Ben Pollack
Ben Pollack
Ben Pollack was a drummer and bandleader from the mid 1920s through the swing era. His eye for talent led him to either discover or employ, at one time or another, musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Jimmy McPartland and Harry James...
and had stints with Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby
George Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
and Alvino Rey
Alvino Rey
Alvin McBurney , known by his stage name Alvino Rey, was an American swing era musician and pioneer, often credited as the father of the pedal steel guitar...
. He also worked as a studio musician for MGM Studios from 1946 to 1949.
Cathcart was also close friends with actor/producer Jack Webb
Jack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
, whom he met while they both served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He later provided the music on Webb's radio and television series Dragnet
Dragnet (series)
Dragnet is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners...
, and made his acting debut in the movie version as well. He also appeared in Webb's other film Pete Kelly's Blues in which he played a cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
player.
He joined the Welk orchestra in 1962 as a trumpet player, and also sang with the Curt Ramsey Quintet as well. In 1964, he married Peggy Lennon
The Lennon Sisters
The Lennon Sisters are a singing group consisting of four siblings: Dianne , Peggy , Kathy , and Janet . They were all born in Los Angeles, California of German/Irish and Mexican ancestry. The original quartet were the eldest four in a family of twelve siblings...
of the Lennon Sisters, and would have six children along with the three he had from his first marriage.
After leaving Welk, Cathcart continued performing with several other Dixieland Jazz bands until his death from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1993, aged 69.