Marty Napoleon
| Marty Napoleon | |
|---|---|
|
Left to right: Don Varella, Stan Johnson, Marty Napoleon, Fraser MacPherson. Penthouse, Vancouver, B.C. April 4, 1952. Photo courtesy of the Fraser MacPherson estate | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
June 2, 1921 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 27, 2015 (aged 93) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Associated acts |
Louis Armstrong Charlie Ventura |
Marty Napoleon (June 2, 1921 – April 27, 2015) was an American jazz pianist born in Brooklyn, New York, perhaps best known for having replaced Earl Hines in Louis Armstrong's All Stars in 1952.[1] In 1946 he worked with Gene Krupa and went on to work with his uncle Phil Napoleon, a trumpeter, in Phil's Original Memphis Five. In the 1950s he also worked with his brother Teddy Napoleon, a pianist, and from 1966 to 1971 he performed with Armstrong again.[2]
One highlight of his work with Armstrong was a rollicking swing version of "Sunrise, Sunset", from the musical Fiddler on the Roof.[3]
Napoleon was born Matthew Napoli in Brooklyn to Sicilian immigrants; he later legally changed his name.[4]
Napoleon lived at The Regency senior center, in Glen Cove, NY (Long Island).[5]
Select discography
As bandleader
- Marty Napoleon Swings and Sings (Bethlehem Records)
With Louis Armstrong
- A Kiss To Build a Dream On (Brunswick Records)
- Louis Armstrong with Jack Pleiss' Orchestra (Decca Records)
With Kai Winding
- New Sound In Modern Music, Vol. 4 (Savoy Records)
With Charlie Ventura
- Blue Saxophone (Norgran Records)
- Collates (Mercury Records)
With Rex Stewart
- Late Date (Simitar Records)
With Carl Barry
- A Kiss To Build a Dream On (Brunswick Records)
With Herbie Fields
- Herbie Fields: His Orchestra and Quintet (1946-1947) (RCA Victor Records)
With Teddy Reig
- Ed Pob (Savoy Records)
With Allen Eager
- Tenor Sax Solos (Savoy Records)
George Peri Drummer Leader
Notes
- ↑ NYTimes obit.
- ↑ Yanow, Scott. "Marty Napoleon Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ↑ Bernstein, Adam (2015-04-30). "Marty Napoleon, vivacious jazz pianist for Louis Armstrong, dies at 93". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
- ↑ Bernstein, Adam (2015-04-30). "Marty Napoleon, vivacious jazz pianist for Louis Armstrong, dies at 93". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
- ↑ "Marty Napoleon". Newsday. legacy.com.
External links
Media related to Marty Napoleon at Wikimedia Commons