Vido Musso

Vido William Musso (January 16, 1913 – January 9, 1982) was an American jazz saxophonist.

Vido Musso
Musso (middle) performs with Benny Goodman (left) and Sid Catlett (right) in the 1940s.
Background information
Birth nameVito Gugliermo Musso
Born(1913-01-16)January 16, 1913[1]
Palermo, Sicily[1]
DiedJanuary 9, 1982(1982-01-09) (aged 68)
Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsSaxophone
Years active1930–1975
Associated actsStan Kenton

Biography

Musso moved with his family from Sicily to the U.S. in July 1920, having arrived at the Port of New York on the Italian steamship Patria. They lived in Detroit, where Musso started learning to play clarinet. Ten years later, he went to Los Angeles and formed a big band with Stan Kenton in 1935.[1][2] Musso dropped out the next year to work with Gus Arnheim, Benny Goodman, and Gene Krupa. He accompanied Billie Holiday and pianist Teddy Wilson on recordings in the late 1930s. He replaced Bunny Berigan as the leader of his band and tried unsuccessfully at other times during the 1930s and 1940s to be a big band leader. But most of his career was spent as a sideman. After returning to Goodman, he was a member of big bands led by Harry James, Woody Herman, and Tommy Dorsey. He went back to play with Kenton during the middle 1940s. Having moved to California, he retired around 1975.[1]

As a leader, Musso recorded for Savoy (1946), Trilon (1947), Arco, Fantasy (1952), RPM, Crown, and Modern.[2]

Discography

As leader

Singles

  • "Jig-a-Jive" // "I've Been a Fool" with Betty Van (Davis & Schwegler, 1938)
  • "Moose on a Loose" // "Vido in a Jam" (Savoy, 1946) with Kai Winding, Gene Roland, Boots Mussulli
  • "Spellbound" // "Lem Me Go" (Savoy, 1946) with the Eddie Safranski All Stars (including Lem Davis)
  • "My Jo-Ann" // "Big Deal" (Savoy, 1946)
  • "On the Mercury" with the Raye Sisters // "Vido's Bop" (Trilon, 1947)
  • "Vido in a Mist"// "Gone with Vido" (Trilon, 1947)
  • "Trees" with Ray Wetzel // "The Unfinished Boogie" (Trilon, 1947)
  • "The Day I Left Alsace-Lorraine" with the Honeydreamers // "Checkerboard" (Trilon, 1947)
  • "Santa Lucia" // "Pagliacci" (Capitol, 1950)
  • "Blue Night" // "Vido's Boogie" (RPM, 1953)
  • "Vido's Drive" // "Frosty" (RPM, 1953)
  • "Blues for Two" // "Speak Easy" (RPM, 1957)
  • "Lullaby" // "Roseland Boogie" (Crown, 1953)
  • "Musso's Boogie" // "Sing, Sing, Sing" (Crown, 1954)
  • "Flat Top Boogie" // "Power House Boogie" (Crown, 1954)

Albums

  • Loaded (Savoy, 1956) with Kai Winding, Gene Roland, Boots Mussulli, Eddie Safranski, Denzil Best
  • The Swingin'st (Modern, 1956) with Maynard Ferguson, Milt Bernhart
  • Teenage Dance Party (Crown, 1957)
  • Thanks for the Thrill (Sounds of Yesteryear, 2015)

As sideman

With Wardell Gray

  • Way Out Wardell (Modern, 1956)

With Stan Kenton

With Jess Stacy

  • Tribute to Benny Goodman (Atlantic, 1954)

References
  1. Kernfeld, Barry (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. p. 857. ISBN 1-56159-284-6.
  2. Yanow, Scott. "Vido Musso". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
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