Fernando Arbello
Encyclopedia
Fernando Arbello was a Puerto Rican
jazz
trombonist and composer who spent most of his career in America.
Arbello first started on trombone at age 12. He played locally in high school bands and symphony orchestras, then moved to New York City
in the middle of the 1920s. There he played with Earle Howard
, Wilbur De Paris
, June Clark
, and Bingie Madison
before the close of the decade. Early in the 1930s he played intermittently with Claude Hopkins
for several years, then worked with Chick Webb
, Fletcher Henderson
, Lucky Millinder
, Billy Hicks, and Fats Waller
before returning to play under Hopkins again near the end of the 1930s.
In 1940 he worked for a few months with Zutty Singleton, then led his own, unsuccessful, band briefly in 1940-41. Later in 1941 he played again in Henderson's ensemble, then with Marty Marsala
(1941) and Jimmie Lunceford
(1942-46). He led his own band again late in the 1940s, which he maintained for several years, though he never recorded with this outfit. In 1953 he played with Rex Stewart
and played in a reunion band with Henderson once more; in 1960 he was a sideman for Machito
.
Late in his life Arbello returned to Puerto Rico, playing at the Hotel San Juan up until the time of his death.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trombonist and composer who spent most of his career in America.
Arbello first started on trombone at age 12. He played locally in high school bands and symphony orchestras, then moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the middle of the 1920s. There he played with Earle Howard
Earle Howard
Earle Howard was an American jazz guitarist, pianist, and vocalist.Howard was raised in New York City, attending the same high school as Fats Waller. Around the same time Howard played in a youth ensemble which featured Charlie Irvis, Benny Morton, and Benny Carter. He led his own seven-piece band...
, Wilbur De Paris
Wilbur de Paris
Wilbur de Paris was a trombone player and band leader, especially known for mixing New Orleans jazz style with Swing.De Paris was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where his father, Sidney G...
, June Clark
June Clark
Professor Dame June Clark, DBE, RN, FRCN FAAN is a Professor Emeritus of Community Nursing, at Swansea University in Wales....
, and Bingie Madison
Bingie Madison
Bingie Madison was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist.Madison began his career as a pianist, working first out of Des Moines, Iowa and then touring Canada and California in 1921...
before the close of the decade. Early in the 1930s he played intermittently with Claude Hopkins
Claude Hopkins
Claude Driskett Hopkins was an American jazz stride pianist and bandleader.-Biography:Claude Hopkins was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1903. Historians differ in respect of the actual date of his birth. His parents were on the faculty of Howard University...
for several years, then worked with Chick Webb
Chick Webb
William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb was an American jazz and swing music drummer as well as a band leader.-Biography:...
, Fletcher Henderson
Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. His was one of the most prolific black orchestras and his influence was vast...
, Lucky Millinder
Lucky Millinder
Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder was an American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful...
, Billy Hicks, and Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
before returning to play under Hopkins again near the end of the 1930s.
In 1940 he worked for a few months with Zutty Singleton, then led his own, unsuccessful, band briefly in 1940-41. Later in 1941 he played again in Henderson's ensemble, then with Marty Marsala
Marty Marsala
Marty Marsala was an American jazz trumpeter born in Chicago, perhaps best known for working from 1926-1946 with his brother Joe Marsala in a big band in New York City and Chicago. He had also toured with various artists, such as Chico Marx and Miff Mole, to name a few...
(1941) and Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford
James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.-Biography:...
(1942-46). He led his own band again late in the 1940s, which he maintained for several years, though he never recorded with this outfit. In 1953 he played with Rex Stewart
Rex Stewart
Rex Stewart was an American jazz cornetist best known for his work with the Duke Ellington orchestra....
and played in a reunion band with Henderson once more; in 1960 he was a sideman for Machito
Machito
Machito , born as Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, was an influential Latin jazz musician who helped refine Afro-Cuban jazz and create both Cubop and salsa music...
.
Late in his life Arbello returned to Puerto Rico, playing at the Hotel San Juan up until the time of his death.