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Si Zentner

Simon Hugh Zentner (June 13, 1917 in New York City, United States – January 31, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada) was an American trombonist and jazz big-band leader.

Zentner played in the bands of Les Brown, Harry James, and Jimmy Dorsey in the 1940s, then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a studio musician. He also landed a job with MGM from 1949 to the mid-50s, and was involved in the music for films such as Singin' in the Rain and A Star Is Born.

The Zentner band began recording for Liberty Records in 1959, recording numerous successful pop/jazz albums during the 1960s and touring steadily with a large outfit. Zentner was a tireless promoter and claimed to have played 178 consecutive one-night performances when the band was at its peak. His ensemble was voted "Best Big Band" for 13 straight years by Down Beat, and Zentner himself was voted Best Trombonist in Playboy Jazz Readers' Poll. In 1962, his album Up a Lazy River (Big Band Plays the Big Hits, Vol. 2) (arranged by Bob Florence) won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

Zentner's success was thoroughly unusual; he had a thriving big band going at a time when big band music was, for the most part, on the wane. He suffered from leukemia late in life, though he continued performing into 1999; he died of the disease in early 2000.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 13, 1917 (New York City), Died January 31, 2000 (Las Vegas)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-69 of 69 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca L 10760 2/3/1958 Little old lady Billy Bean ; John (Johnny) Pisano instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 10809 10/31/1958 Carioca Jack Kane Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 10810 10/31/1958 Some of these days Jack Kane Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 10811 10/31/1958 I'm getting sentimental over you Jack Kane Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 10812 10/31/1958 Poor butterfly Jack Kane Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 10813 11/2/1958 St. Louis blues Jack Kane Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 10814 11/2/1958 Alfern song Jack Kane Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 10815 11/2/1958 Lazy river Jack Kane Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 10816 11/2/1958 Clare's tune Jack Kane Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50521 10-in. 6/7/1944 It's a cryin' shame Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50522 6/7/1944 This I love above all Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50523 10-in. 6/7/1944 An hour never pass Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50524 6/7/1944 Noche de ronda (And so I dream) Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50608 10-in. 7/20/1944 Stardust Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50609 10-in. 7/20/1944 Jumpin' Jehosephat Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50610 10-in. 7/20/1944 Begin the beguine Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50611 7/20/1944 This I love above all Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50612 10-in. 7/20/1944 Oh, what a beautiful morning Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca L 50613 7/20/1944 Noche de ronda (And so I dream) Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
(Results 51-69 of 69 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Zentner, Si," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/352073.

Zentner, Si. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/352073.

"Zentner, Si." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/352073

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