Johnny Best
Encyclopedia
Johnny McClanian Best, Jr., better known as Johnny Best (October 20, 1913, Shelby, North Carolina
– September 20, 2003) was an American jazz
trumpeter.
Best played piano as a child and learned trumpet from age 13. He worked in the 1930s with Les Brown
, Charlie Barnet
, and Artie Shaw
(1937–39), then joined Glenn Miller
's orchestra from 1939 to 1942. He spent a short time with Bob Crosby
before serving in the Navy during World War II
as a lifeguard, playing in Shaw's military band
in 1942-43 and Sam Donahue
's in 1944-45. Following a stint with Benny Goodman
in 1945-46, he relocated to Hollywood, where he worked with Crosby again on radio from 1946–51 and played in many studio big band
s in the 1940s and 1950s. He did a tour with Billy May
in 1953, and led his own group locally later in the decade. His trumpet can be heard along with Ella Fitzgerald
on her album Get Happy. In 1964 he toured Japan
with Crosby, and joined Ray Conniff
for worldwide tours in the 1970s. He was injured in an accident and used a wheelchair
late in life but was active into the 1980s.
Shelby, North Carolina
Shelby is a city in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 19,477 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cleveland County.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....
– September 20, 2003) was an American 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...
trumpeter.
Best played piano as a child and learned trumpet from age 13. He worked in the 1930s with Les Brown
Les Brown (bandleader)
Les Brown, Sr. and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. He was the first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences...
, Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet
Charles Daly Barnet was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.His major recordings were "Skyliner", "Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffle".-Early life:...
, and Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
(1937–39), then joined Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
's orchestra from 1939 to 1942. He spent a short time 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:...
before serving in the Navy during 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...
as a lifeguard, playing in Shaw's military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
in 1942-43 and Sam Donahue
Sam Donahue
Sam Donahue was an American swing music jazz tenor saxophonist, trumpeter and musical arranger. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he is probably best known for his work with Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Billy May, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and many others.He is the father of guitarist Jerry...
's in 1944-45. Following a stint with Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
in 1945-46, he relocated to Hollywood, where he worked with Crosby again on radio from 1946–51 and played in many studio big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s in the 1940s and 1950s. He did a tour with Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
in 1953, and led his own group locally later in the decade. His trumpet can be heard along with Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
on her album Get Happy. In 1964 he toured Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with Crosby, and joined Ray Conniff
Ray Conniff
Joseph Raymond Conniff was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s.-Biography:...
for worldwide tours in the 1970s. He was injured in an accident and used a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
late in life but was active into the 1980s.
Further reading
- Brian Peerless, "Johnny Best". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.