Harry Gozzard

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Harry Gozzard
Jazz musician Harry Gozzard with trumpet.jpg
Background information
Birth nameHarry Roy Gozzard
Born(1916-03-05)March 5, 1916
Shelburne, Ontario, Canada
DiedJanuary 11, 1995(1995-01-11) (aged 78)
Warren, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
Instruments
  • Trumpet
Years active1934–1980
LabelsRCA Victor, Bluebird Records, Capitol Records
Associated acts

Harry Roy Gozzard (March 5, 1916 - January 11, 1995) was an American jazz trumpeter.[1] He performed with Sam Donahue.[2] (In an article written by Mike Zirpolo, for Swing and Beyond, Donahue was described as “a superlative tenor saxophone soloist.”)[3] Other members of Donahue’s band included the former The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson bandleader Doc Severinsen, 1946 Esquire Award winner for Best New Female Vocalist Frances Wayne, Grammy Award-winning vocalist and actress Jo Stafford and popular music arranger Leo Reisman.[4] Gozzard also performed with legendary band leader Count Basie.[5][6]

Early life[]

The youngest of Charlotte (née Campbell) and William Gozzard’s four children, Harry Gozzard was born in Shelburne, Ontario, Canada, on March 5, 1916. His three older siblings, Margaret “Bessie” Gozzard Pulis, William Leonard Gozzard and Kathleen Mary Gozzard Costigan, were also born in Shelburne. Gozzard’s ancestors originated in England, Scotland and Ireland. His grandmother migrated to Canada from Ireland during the Irish Potato Famine. He, his parents and the other siblings migrated to Detroit, Michigan in 1924. In 1949, Gozzard met a Kentucky-born woman named Wilda Crager. They married in 1952.[7]

Career[]

Vincent Bach trumpet mouthpiece used by Gozzard

During his years in Donahue’s band, he took part in a recording known as Beat the Band to the Bar.[8][9] It is a collection of songs recorded between 1930 - 1954. Allmusic described it as a “sampler of irreverent hot novelties, jazz burlesques, and big-band sendups.” Many prominent jazz musicians performed on that album...Sam Donahue, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Rudy Vallée, Hoagy Carmichael, Charlie Barnet, Ozzie Nelson and many more.[10]

Gozzard was a sideman in Sam Donahue’s orchestra. Donahue is on the left talking with Stan Kenton at the Aquarium in New York City, December 1946.

At the young age of 25, Gozzard (in Donahue’s band) performed in a series of recordings for Bluebird Records.[11][12] Founded in 1932 by, Eli Oberstein, Bluebird was a RCA Victor subsidiary label best known for their low-cost releases. They eventually became known as the “Bluebird sound,” which directly influenced rhythm and blues music, as well as early rock and roll music.

Oberstein pioneered the practice of payola, a term used in the music industry to describe the illegal practice of paying commercial radio stations to play songs without the stations disclosing the payments. (Payola can greatly influence a song’s perceived popularity.) Oberstein was suddenly and unexpectedly fired in 1939 by RCA Victor. Since no explanation was ever given regarding his firing, one is left to wonder if the reason might have been directly related to his underhanded dealings with radio stations.[13]

Sam Donahue and his orchestra playing for Hep the cat

It was stated in a caption of a photo archived in the Library of Congress that Sam Donahue and his orchestra were booked together with Lionel Hampton and his orchestra at the Aquarium in New York in 1946. The individuals in charge of the event scheduled Donahue and his orchestra to perform in the afternoons. However, the aquarium wasn't open in the afternoon, so, during one of those workless afternoon sessions, Donahue and his orchestra ended up lovingly playing to an audience of one, an adorable kitty named Hep.[14][15]

Interestingly enough, a jazz record company and label founded almost 30 years later in Edinburgh, Scotland, is named Hep Records. They began as a reissue label for material from radio transcription discs, mainly big band music from the 1940s. Curiously, Sam Donahue material just so happened to be reissued by Hep Records. Sam Donahue And His Orchestra - Hollywood Hop is one of the reissues. Gozzard is listed as one of the instrumentalists for tracks 1–11 on that CD.[16]

Gozzard and wife Wilda in Frankenmuth, Michigan 1980

It is mentioned in the IMDb bio of Sam Donahue and also in an UPROXX article that Frank Sinatra Jr. was a vocalist for Donahue. He joined his band when he was just 19 years old![17] Sinatra later mentioned that the majority of what he learned about singing was learned through the time he spent with Donahue and the other musicians in the band.[18] Incidentally, Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped in Lake Tahoe while on tour with Donahue. His father Frank Sinatra paid the $240,000 ransom which ultimately led to his son’s release from the kidnappers.[19][20]

The Sam Donahue band had quite a few top-10 hits: Dinah, Put That Kiss Back Where You Found It, My Melancholy Baby, The Whistler, I Never Knew, Just The Other Day, Red Wing and A Rainy Night In Rio. They are a part of the songs that make up The Sam Donahue Collection - 1940-1948. Gozzard is included in the credits of that collection.[21][22]

Boarding the SS Ste. Claire steamer for a day’s outing at Boblo Island Amusement Park

During the 1960s, Gozzard played in the orchestra on the two steamers (SS Columbia and SS Ste. Claire) that ferried passengers (on Detroit River) to and from Boblo Island Amusement Park.[23][24]

He played in the Windsor, Ontario Elmwood Casino orchestra during the 1960s. Well-known celebrities, like Sammy Davis, Jr., Tom Jones, Ann Margaret, Tony Bennett, Bob Newhart, and Patti Page, performed at the Elmwood.[25]

Gozzard was in the band that performed during the Al Kaline Day celebration at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, on August 2, 1970. Mel Tormé sang Thanks For The Memory.[26]

During the 1970s, Gozzard performed in the Grand Hotel orchestra situated on beautiful Mackinac Island. The romantic fantasy drama film Somewhere in Time was shot on location there in the 70’s as well.[27] Five U.S. presidents have visited the hotel and island.[28]

The Graystone Ballroom

Gozzard also performed in “Detroit’s Million Dollar Ballroom,” officially known as the Graystone Ballroom. It was one of the six great ballrooms in Detroit. After years of neglect, it fell into disrepair and was subsequently demolished (1980) in order to make way for a McDonald’s restaurant.[29]

Gozzard was a member of the Detroit Federation of Musicians organization for 50-plus years. He was awarded a commemorative pin for his 50th year being affiliated with them. They are a part of the American Federation of Musicians.[30]

Discography[]

As sideman[]

With Sam Donahue[31]

  • Sam Donahue Collection (48 tracks - Bluebird Records, Capitol Records)[32][33]
  • Hollywood Hop (26 tracks - Hep Records)[34]
    An impromptu trumpet performance at one of Gozzard’s daughter’s wedding reception in 1974
  • Beat the Band to the Bar (27 tracks - Sanctuary)[35]
  • Loafin’ on a lazy day (Victor, 1941)
  • Au reet (Victor, 1941)
  • They still make love in London (Victor, 1941)
  • Saxophone Sam (Victor, 1941)
  • Do you care (Victor, 1941)
  • Beat the band to the bar (Victor, 1941)
  • Pick up the groove (Victor, 1941)
  • Six Mile stretch (Victor, 1941)
  • Coffee and cakes (Victor, 1941)
  • Flo-flo (Victor, 1941)
  • Half a heart is worse than none (Victor, 1941)
  • I’ll never tire of you (Victor, 1941)

With Count Basie

  • Count Basie - The Alternative Takes (25 tracks - Neatwork)[36][37]

References[]

  1. ^ "Harry Gozzard-discography".
  2. ^ "Sam Donahue and his Orchestra-Hollywood Hop".
  3. ^ Zirpolo, Mike (June 28, 2021). ""Big Beaver" (1941) Jan Savitt with Joe Aglora and Al Leopold / (1940) Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys".
  4. ^ "IMDB".
  5. ^ "Count Basie".
  6. ^ "Count Basie Volume 2 (1940-41) - The Alternative Takes".
  7. ^ "Harry Roy Gozzard".
  8. ^ "Harry Gozzard-discography".
  9. ^ "Internet Archive:Beat The Band To The Bar".
  10. ^ "Beat the Band to the Bar".
  11. ^ "Harry Gozzard-discography".
  12. ^ "Internet Archive -Sam Donahue and his Orchestra - Six Mile Stretch".
  13. ^ "Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music".
  14. ^ "Portrait of Sam Donahue and Hep, Aquarium, New York, NY, ca. Dec. 1946".
  15. ^ "Sam Donahue and Hep at the Aquarium, NY".
  16. ^ "Sam Donahue And His Orchestra - Hollywood Hop".
  17. ^ Roberts, Andrew (March 17, 2016). "Frank Sinatra Jr. Has Died At The Age Of 72".
  18. ^ "Frank Sinatra Jr".
  19. ^ Williams, Richard (March 17, 2016). "Frank Sinatra Jr Obituary".
  20. ^ "It Was A Very Bad Year - Robert J. Randisi".
  21. ^ "Sam Donahue: Collection 1940-1948".
  22. ^ "The Sam Donahue Collection-1940-1948".
  23. ^ "Bois Blanc Steamers Crew List".
  24. ^ "Bob-Lo Island".
  25. ^ "Coming Soon To The Elmwood – 1960's".
  26. ^ "Bill McAllister: Nothing But Green". August 2, 2015.
  27. ^ "Somewhere in Time".
  28. ^ "Grand Hotel".
  29. ^ Bjorn, Lars (June 28, 2021). "Stompin' at the Graystone: Jazz in Detroit — 1917-1940".
  30. ^ "Detroit Federation of Musicians".
  31. ^ "Harry Gozzard-discography".
  32. ^ "Sam Donahue: Collection 1940-1948".
  33. ^ "The Sam Donahue Collection-1940-1948".
  34. ^ "Sam Donahue And His Orchestra - Hollywood Hop".
  35. ^ "Beat the Band to the Bar".
  36. ^ "Count Basie".
  37. ^ "Count Basie Volume 2 (1940-41) - The Alternative Takes".

External Links[]

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