Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-09-14 09:26
Attachment: Crosby2.png (564k)
Speaking of Matty Mattlock...
I've been working through a local archive of some of Bob Crosby's later work (mostly studio work, specials, etc.) - with many handwritten arrangements by Matty...and Matty's son if I recall correctly. During this time, the Crosby band was big into Medleys and scripted banter/singing. It appears that many of these arrangements are pre-publisher/finisher originals.
One of the cool items I've run across, though, is an old arrangement of (believe it not) High Society. The medley was being created for a show in 1958, but there are SOME parts from an earlier version (I'm guessing used for reference in creating the 1958 version). See the attached image to see a reference to Fazola. If memory serves correctly, this would peg the "earlier" version parts to sometime between 1938-1941. Really cool stuff. Some of the arrangements are in pencil, and some ink. The full conductor scores are almost always in pencil though.
Unfortunately, the only parts for the earlier version are (as they appear):
Alto 1 (Joe is written in, but Matty is written in in blue)
1st Trumpet (Yank)
3rd Trumpet (Shorty)
Trombone I (Smoot)
II Trombone
III Trombone (Muni)
Bass (Blaq)
All the parts of the newer (1958) arrangement have a big number "47" written in pencil. At the time, I didn't know what that meant, but have come to understand this most likely refers to musician's union 47. This summer, a friend (who didn't even know I was researching this) asked if I wanted an old musician's book from back in the 50s which he had just been given. I said, "Sure!" When I got it from him - it was a local musician union 47's directory from the 1957 era. It lists the phone numbers and addresses of nearly every Crosby band member at that time! Matty, Eddie, etc. Again, pretty cool stuff. It has been difficult for me to find a crowd to share this information with...as most people just sorta stare at me blankly while I describe the find to them.
Fuzzy
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