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George Roberts (trombonist)

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George Roberts
Roberts in an advertisement
Roberts in an advertisement
Background information
BornMarch 22, 1928
Des Moines, Iowa,U.S.
DiedSeptember 28, 2014 (aged 86)
Fallbrook, California,U.S.
GenresJazz
InstrumentsTrombone,bass trombone

George Mortimer Roberts(March 22, 1928 – September 28, 2014)[1]was an American trombonist.[2]

Career

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Born and raised inDes Moines, Iowa,Roberts began his career after service in theUnited States Navy.[3]

Roberts was a member of the Ray Robbins band, then quit to joinGene Krupain 1947 when he was in the same section withUrbie Green.It was Urbie's lyrictenor tromboneplaying that inspired George to be an "Urbie" one octave lower. After the Krupa band broke up in 1949, Roberts was a freelance musician inReno, Nevada,for a year before being hired byStan Kentonto replace Bart Varsalona, who had left the band during its 1949–1950 hiatus.[4]Roberts opted to stay in Los Angeles rather than go with Kenton on his 1953 European tour.

Working freelance again, he was introduced toNelson Riddleby Lee Gillette, one of the executives at Capitol Records who had produced Kenton's recordings. Roberts began recording with Riddle,Don Costa,Billy May,Axel Stordahl,Gordon Jenkins,andHenry Manciniin sessions withFrank Sinatra,Tony Bennett,Ella Fitzgerald,Judy Garland,Sarah Vaughan,andNat King Cole.As a Hollywood studio musician, Roberts recorded film scores such asJaws,King Kong,Close Encounters of the Third Kindand served on the staff orchestras of the radio and television networks. Before retiring, he had performed on over 6000 recordings.

Personal life

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Roberts died from pneumonia on September 28, 2014, at the age of 86 inFallbrook, California.He also had multiple sclerosis.[5]

Discography

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As leader

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  • Meet Mr. Roberts(Columbia, 1959)
  • Bottoms Up(Columbia, 1960)
  • Let George Do It(Regal, 1968)
  • Practice Makes Perfect(DNE, 1969)

As sideman

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WithStan Kenton

WithSkip Martin

  • Scheherajazz(Somerset, 1959)
  • Swingin' with Prince Igor(Sonic Workshop, 1960)
  • Perspectives in Percussion Volume 2(Stereo-Fidelity, 1961)

WithShorty Rogers

WithPete Rugolo

WithLalo Schifrin

With others

References

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  1. ^"George Roberts - obituary".Telegraph.RetrievedJuly 22,2019.
  2. ^Hill, Paul (August 12, 2004)."Interview with George Roberts".Archived fromthe originalon November 22, 2018.RetrievedDecember 5,2010.
  3. ^Levinson, Peter J. (2005).September in the Rain: The Life of Nelson Riddle.Taylor Trade Publications.ISBN978-1-58979-163-3.
  4. ^Zimmerman, Peter C. (November 1, 2021).The Jazz Masters: Setting the Record Straight.Univ. Press of Mississippi.ISBN978-1-4968-3739-4.
  5. ^"George Roberts Passes Away".International Trombone Association.September 29, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 30,2014.
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