Gene Orloff

Gene Orloff (born 1922 or 1923 – died March 23, 2009)[1] was an American violinist, concertmaster, arranger, contractor and session musician.

Background

The son of a Russian immigrant violin maker, Orloff would try and get his father's violin down from the piano and try to play it. He was only three at the time. By the time he was five, he was playing recitals in his home city of Boston. Later, he was playing concerts at venues which included performances at Carnegie Hall and with the Boston Symphony. Having won a scholarship at the Curtis Institute of Music, he left due to the schedule and found work as a commercial musician and, on occasion, was working for 15 hours work per day.

During his time, the artists that Orloff performed with included The Bee Gees, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand. Orloff's daughter Marcy said that one of his favorites was Van McCoy.[2]

Career

In the late 1940s, he was in Neal Hefti's orchestra, together with, among others, Curley Russell, Shelley Manne and Flip Phillips, on a recording date backing Charlie Parker,[3] and with Nat King Cole's trio/The Muleskinners, backing Woody Herman on vocals.[4]

1970s

Working under Van McCoy's direction, he handled the arrangements for the horns and strings on the Faith Hope & Charity album by Faith Hope and Charity which was released in 1970. Other musicians to play on the album were Richard Tee and Leon Pendarvis on keyboards, guitarists Eric Gale and David Spinozza, bassists Gordon Edwards, percussionists Arthur Jenkins, George Devens and drummer Steve Gadd.[5] He also played on the Disco Baby album by Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony which was released in 1975 and featured "The Hustle".[6]

Discography
As sideman

References
  1. "Requiem: Gene Orloff" in Allegro, Volume CX No. 4 April, 2010 Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  2. Local 802A FM - Requiem, Gene Orloff
  3. Priestley, Brian (2007) Chasin' the Bird: The Life and Legacy of Charlie Parker, p. 156. Oxford University Press. At Google Books. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  4. "Nat King Cole Discography: 1949" Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  5. funkymysoul - Faith Hope & Charity – 1970 – Faith Hope & Charity (Maxwell)
  6. Discogs - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – Disco Baby
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