Sonny Dunham
Encyclopedia
Elmer "Sonny" Dunham was an American
trumpet player and bandleader.
Born in Brockton, Massachusetts
, the son of Elmer and Ethel (née Lewis) Dunham, he attended local schools and took lessons on the valve trombone at the age of 7. He changed to the slide trombone at age 11, and was playing in local bands by the age of 13. Dunham began his musical career as a trombone player in the Boston area.
In the late 1920s he moved to New York where he played with Ben Bernie
for six months before moving onto Paul Tremaine's Orchestra in 1929 where he remained for 2 years. It was while he was working with Tremaine's group, where he also sang and arranged, that he switched to the trumpet.
In 1931, he left Tremaine and for a few months led his own group, calling it Sonny Dunham and his New York Yankees. He then joined the Casa Loma Orchestra
in 1932 where he became a popular soloist, scoring a big hit with his trumpet work on "Memories of You". He stayed until March, 1936 when he formed another more unusual group, Sonny Lee and The New Yorkers Band, which featured 14 pieces, with ten of his musicians doubling on trumpet.
After the band failed to secure adequate bookings, he moved to Europe for three months and in 1937 returned to the Casa Loma Orchestra, where he remained until 1940 when he tried again to form his own group, this time, with more success.
His new band debuted in July 1940 at the Glendale Auditorium in Los Angeles. Sonny's band toured the United States, playing at
the top spots and holding talent searches along the way. After returning to New York in early 1941, they were on nightly radio broadcasts at the Roseland Ballroom
, and at the Meadbrook at Cedar Grove, New Jersey
, in June. The band then left New York in the late summer for Hollywood, but returned to New York in January 1942, only to return to the road again by March of that year. They played at the Hollywood Palladium in April, and were also featured in the Universal Picture "Behind the Eight Ball" with the Ritz Brothers.
He served as musical director for this film. The band also appeared in another Universal film short "Jivin' Jam Session." The band then left to play in Chicago, and returned to New York for an appearance at the Paramount Theatre in November, 1942. From January to April, 1943, his band was on the bandstand of the Hotel New Yorker. They later toured the mid west and returned to New York late that year where they recorded for Langworth Transcriptions. In February of 1944, the band returned to the Hotel New Yorker, and in April, performed at the Cafe Rouge Room at the Hotel Pennsylvania
. The band headed back to Los Angeles and performed at the Hollywood Palladium
in July and August. While there, the band appeared in the Universal film short "Jive Busters" and then went over to Warner Bros. where they were featured in the film Sonny Dunham and His Orchestra. In September, they headed back to the East Coast. After another tour of the mid west in 1945, and again in 1946, the band returned to New York in late 1946.
The band had few appearances between 1947 and 1950. Sonny dissolved the band in 1951 and worked with Bernie Mann and Tommy Dorsey
for a while before forming another group. He moved to Florida in the 1960s where he formed a smaller band and played mainly in the area. He took the band on cruise ships when he could find bookings, and also booked bands for the cruise ships.
Little was heard from Sonny in the 1970s and 1980s. He was living in a trailer in Miami, Florida
, still involved in booking bands for cruises and playing occasionally when he could find work. He died from cancer on July 9, 1990, aged 78.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
trumpet player and bandleader.
Born in Brockton, Massachusetts
Brockton, Massachusetts
Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 93,810 in the 2010 Census. Brockton, along with Plymouth, are the county seats of Plymouth County...
, the son of Elmer and Ethel (née Lewis) Dunham, he attended local schools and took lessons on the valve trombone at the age of 7. He changed to the slide trombone at age 11, and was playing in local bands by the age of 13. Dunham began his musical career as a trombone player in the Boston area.
In the late 1920s he moved to New York where he played with Ben Bernie
Ben Bernie
Ben Bernie , born Bernard Anzelevitz, was an American jazz violinist and radio personality, often introduced as The Old Maestro. He was noted for his showmanship and memorable bits of snappy dialogue....
for six months before moving onto Paul Tremaine's Orchestra in 1929 where he remained for 2 years. It was while he was working with Tremaine's group, where he also sang and arranged, that he switched to the trumpet.
In 1931, he left Tremaine and for a few months led his own group, calling it Sonny Dunham and his New York Yankees. He then joined the Casa Loma Orchestra
Casa Loma Orchestra
The Casa Loma Orchestra was a popular American dance band active from 1927 to 1963. From 1929 until the rapid multiplication in the number of swing bands from 1935 on, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the top North American dance bands...
in 1932 where he became a popular soloist, scoring a big hit with his trumpet work on "Memories of You". He stayed until March, 1936 when he formed another more unusual group, Sonny Lee and The New Yorkers Band, which featured 14 pieces, with ten of his musicians doubling on trumpet.
After the band failed to secure adequate bookings, he moved to Europe for three months and in 1937 returned to the Casa Loma Orchestra, where he remained until 1940 when he tried again to form his own group, this time, with more success.
His new band debuted in July 1940 at the Glendale Auditorium in Los Angeles. Sonny's band toured the United States, playing at
the top spots and holding talent searches along the way. After returning to New York in early 1941, they were on nightly radio broadcasts at the Roseland Ballroom
Roseland Ballroom
The Roseland Ballroom is a multi-purpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theatre district, on West 52nd Street....
, and at the Meadbrook at Cedar Grove, New Jersey
Cedar Grove, New Jersey
-Climate:Cedar Grove has a humid subtropical climate, with warm/hot humid summers and cool/cold winters. The climate is slightly colder overall during the summer than in New York City because there is no urban heat island effect....
, in June. The band then left New York in the late summer for Hollywood, but returned to New York in January 1942, only to return to the road again by March of that year. They played at the Hollywood Palladium in April, and were also featured in the Universal Picture "Behind the Eight Ball" with the Ritz Brothers.
He served as musical director for this film. The band also appeared in another Universal film short "Jivin' Jam Session." The band then left to play in Chicago, and returned to New York for an appearance at the Paramount Theatre in November, 1942. From January to April, 1943, his band was on the bandstand of the Hotel New Yorker. They later toured the mid west and returned to New York late that year where they recorded for Langworth Transcriptions. In February of 1944, the band returned to the Hotel New Yorker, and in April, performed at the Cafe Rouge Room at the Hotel Pennsylvania
Hotel Pennsylvania
The Hotel Pennsylvania is a hotel located at 401 7th Avenue in Manhattan, across the street from Pennsylvania Station and Madison Square Garden in New York City.- History :...
. The band headed back to Los Angeles and performed at the Hollywood Palladium
Hollywood Palladium
The Hollywood Palladium is a theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and includes an 11,200 square foot dance floor with room for up to 4,000 people.-History:...
in July and August. While there, the band appeared in the Universal film short "Jive Busters" and then went over to Warner Bros. where they were featured in the film Sonny Dunham and His Orchestra. In September, they headed back to the East Coast. After another tour of the mid west in 1945, and again in 1946, the band returned to New York in late 1946.
The band had few appearances between 1947 and 1950. Sonny dissolved the band in 1951 and worked with Bernie Mann and Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
for a while before forming another group. He moved to Florida in the 1960s where he formed a smaller band and played mainly in the area. He took the band on cruise ships when he could find bookings, and also booked bands for the cruise ships.
Little was heard from Sonny in the 1970s and 1980s. He was living in a trailer in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, still involved in booking bands for cruises and playing occasionally when he could find work. He died from cancer on July 9, 1990, aged 78.