Jump to content

Don Elliott

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeDon Elliott (disambiguation).
Don Elliott
Elliott in a 1958 advertisement
Elliott in a 1958 advertisement
Background information
Birth nameDon Helfman[1]
Born(1926-10-21)October 21, 1926
Somerville,New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJuly 5, 1984(1984-07-05)(aged 57)
Weston,Connecticut
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsTrumpet, vibraphone, mellophone

Don ElliottHelfman(October 21, 1926 – July 5, 1984), known asDon Elliott,was an Americanjazztrumpeter,vibraphonist,vocalist, andmellophoneplayer.[2]Elliott recorded over 60 albums and 5,000 advertising jingles throughout his career.

Career

[edit]

Elliott played mellophone in his high school band and played trumpet for an army band. After studying at theUniversity of Miamihe added vibraphone to his instruments. He recorded withTerry GibbsandBuddy Richbefore forming his own band. From 1953 to 1960, he won theDownBeatReaders' Poll several times for "miscellaneous instrument-mellophone."[3][4]

Known as the "Human Instrument", Elliott performed jazz as a vocalist, trombonist,flugelhornist,and percussionist. He pioneered the art ofmultitrack recording,composed prize-winning advertising jingles, prepared film scores, and built a thrivingproduction company.He scored severalBroadwayproductions, includingJames Thurber'sThe Beast in MeandA Thurber Carnival,as well asFrank D. Gilroy'sThe Only Game in Town.[5]He also provided one of the voices for the novelty jazz duo theNutty Squirrels.

Elliott was a longtime associate ofQuincy Jones,contributing vocals to Jones's scores for the filmsThe Pawnbroker(1962),Walk, Don't Run(1966),In the Heat of the Night(1967),$(1971),The Hot Rock(1972) andThe Getaway(1972).[6]Elliot also composed the score toThe Happy HookerstarringLynn Redgrave.

Elliott owned and operated one of the first multitrackrecording studiosin New York City and in Weston, Connecticut, where he died of cancer in 1984.

Discography

[edit]

As leader or co-leader

[edit]

As sideman

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Pirtle, Scooter (1994)."Don Elliott: He Was a Gentlemen, too".Middle Horn Leader.Retrieved27 August2017.
  2. ^"Don Elliott, 57, Jazz Singer, Vibraphonist and Composer".The New York Times.6 July 1984.Retrieved27 August2017.
  3. ^Wynn, Ron."Don Elliott".AllMusic.Retrieved27 August2017.
  4. ^"Down Beat Magazine".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-03-11.Retrieved2007-02-12.Down Beat Readers PollsArchivedMarch 11, 2007, at theWayback Machine
  5. ^"Don Elliott".IBDb.Retrieved2008-05-10.
  6. ^Leonard Feather;Ira Gitler(1 April 2007).The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz.Oxford University Press. p. 450.ISBN978-0-19-988640-1.
  7. ^"Don Elliott | Credits | AllMusic".AllMusic.Retrieved27 August2017.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don_Elliott&oldid=1222540726"