Simon Hugh Zentner (June 13, 1917 in New York City, United States – January 31, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada) was an American jazz trombonist and big-band leader.[1]
Zentner played in the bands of Les Brown, Harry James, and Jimmy Dorsey in the 1940s, then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a studio musician.[1] He also landed a job with MGM from 1949 to the mid-50s, and was involved in the music for films such as Singin' in the Rain and A Star Is Born.[2]
The Zentner band began recording for Liberty Records in 1959, recording numerous successful pop/jazz albums during the 1960s and touring steadily with a large outfit.[2] Zentner was a tireless promoter and claimed to have played 178 consecutive one-night performances when the band was at its peak.[2] His ensemble was voted "Best Big Band" for 13 straight years by Down Beat, and Zentner himself was voted Best Trombonist in Playboy Jazz Readers' Poll.[2] In 1962, his album Up a Lazy River (Big Band Plays the Big Hits, Vol. 2) (arranged by Bob Florence) won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.[3]
Zentner's success was thoroughly unusual; he had a thriving big band going at a time when big band music was, for the most part, on the wane.[1] He suffered from leukemia late in life, though he continued performing into 1999; he died of the disease in early 2000.[2]
Discography
[edit]- Sleepy Lagoon (Liberty, 1957)
- Introducing Si Zentner and His Dance Band (Bel Canto, 1958)
- High Noon Cha Cha Cha (Bel Canto, 1959)
- A Thinking Man's Band (Liberty, 1959)
- Swing Fever (Bel Canto, 1959)
- Suddenly It's Swing (Liberty, 1960)
- The Swingin' Eye (Liberty, 1960)
- Great Band with Great Voices (Liberty, 1961)
- Big Band Plays the Big Hits (Liberty, 1961) U.S. No. 65[4]
- Great Band with Great Voices...Swing the Great Voices of the Great Bands (Liberty, 1961)
- Presenting Si Zentner (Smash, 1961)
- Exotica Suite with Martin Denny (Liberty, 1962)
- In Person (International Award Series, 1962)
- The Stripper and Other Big Band Hits (Liberty, 1962) U.S. No. 108[4]
- Si and His Orchestra Play Desafinado (Liberty, 1962) U.S. No. 139[4]
- Up a Lazy River (Big Band Plays the Hits, Vol. 2) (Liberty, 1962) U.S. No. 107[4]\
- Waltz in Jazz Time (Liberty, 1963)
- Rhythm Plus Blues (Liberty, 1963)
- More (Liberty, 1963)
- Music That's Going Places (Liberty, 1963)
- From Russia with Love (Liberty, 1964)
- Si Zentner Plays the Big Band Hits (Liberty, 1964)
- Bond's 007 Theme (Liberty, 1964)
- Si Zentner in Full Swing! (Liberty, 1965)
- My Cup of Tea (RCA Victor, 1965)
- It's Nice to Go Trav'ling (RCA Victor, 1965)
- Put Your Head On My Shoulder (RCA Victor, 1966)
- A Perfect Blend (Liberty, 1966)
- Swingin' Country (Liberty, 1966)
- Warning Shot (Liberty, 1967)
- Right Here! Right Now! The Big Mod Sound Of (Liberty, 1967)
- The Wonderful Sound (Liberty, 1969)
- Great Band Sounds of Si Zentner (United Artists, 1975)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 515. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- ^ a b c d e "Si Zentner | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Si Zentner | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Billboard, Allmusic.com
External links
[edit]- Si Zentner discography at Discogs
