Hank D'Amico (March 21, 1915 – December 2, 1965*), isn’t well remembered today but he was an outstanding American jazz clarinetist.
D'Amico was born in Rochester, NY and was raised in Buffalo, NY. He first played violin but later performed on clarinet in his high-school band.
His first professional engagements were with the bandleader Paul Specht (1936) and Red Norvo (1936–8). In 1938 he broadcast on radio with his own octet, and the following year returned briefly to Norvo’s band.
From April to May 1940 he recorded with the Bobby Byrne Orchestra, after which he was with Bob Crosby until July 1941, then led his own big band until 1942. After short periods with Les Brown (summer 1942) and Benny Goodman as well as broadcasting on CBS as a member of the big band from late 1942 into early 1943. From January 1945 he played with the Bobby Hackett Orchestra until February 1946.
He also found time to play with Miff Mole and Tommy Dorsey. He recorded with Louis Armstrong in 1950. He also spent ten years as a staff musician for ABC, and then played with Jack Teagarden in 1954 and Steve Allen in 1955.From that point he mostly worked with small groups, infrequently forming his own band.
One of his last works was with the Morey Field Trio when he played at the World’s Fair in 1964.
He died from cancer 2 December, 1965 in New York. (Sparce information edited from Wikipedia & Discogs)(*Other source gave 3rd December as date of death)
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Here’s a compilation of an album and some 78’s gleaned from the internet. Of course the digitised album will have no surface noise, but be warned the 78’s have plenty. But being of historical value I have added them as they all add to the artistry of this under acknowledged clarinet player. All tracks are performed by Hank D’Amico with his Sextet or Octet and on the odd track his Orchestra. I did notice another album on the internet of his late 1950’s recordings, but time does not allow me to delve any further.
This playlist is not professionally engineered; just lovingly put together to highlight Hanks artistry, so sound and bit rate quality may vary.
For “Holiday With Hank”(expanded) go here:
https://krakenfiles.com/view/13f1550dec/file.html
1. I Only Have Eyes for You (with The Buddy Weed Trio) 2:38
2. Anything for You 2:15
3. Deep Purple 2:48
4. You're the Cream in My Coffee 2:30
5. Lover Come Back to Me! (with The Buddy Weed Trio) 2:36
6. They're Off (with The Buddy Weed Trio) 2:38
7. Poor Butterfly 2:26
8. If Dreams Come True 2:36
9. Sly Little Witch From Greenwich
10. Juke Box Judy
11. Gone At Dawn
12. Hanks Pranks
13. Mad About The Boy (with Paul Baron & His Band.V-Disc)
14. East Of The Sun
15. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
16. Over The Rainbow
17. Cole Heat, Warm Feet
18. Hank’s Holiday
19. Billy’s Bubble
20. Tomorrow
21. Gone
22. Grasshopper
23. Bernie’s Tune
24. Hank’s Dilemma
25. The Nearness Of You
Dates and credits:
1-8 – All taken from 1947 MGM recordings..
9-12, 14-17 – All taken from 1944 National 78 rpm transfers.
13. Taken from 1944 V-Disc 78 rpm transfer.
18-25- All taken from the 1954 Bethlehem LP Holiday With Hank
Cover photo taken from Amazon mp3 album.
A big thank you goes to Jazz-On-Line for Tracks 9 to 17 and YouTube up-loaders for the rest.
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