14 Facts About Frankie Trumbauer

Orie Frank Trumbauer was an American jazz saxophonist of the 1920s and 1930s.

Frankie Trumbauer played alto saxophone, bassoon, clarinet and several other instruments.

Frankie Trumbauer was a composer of sophisticated sax melodies, one of the major small group jazz bandleaders of the 1920s and 1930s.

Frankie Trumbauer's landmark recording of "Singin' the Blues" with Bix Beiderbecke and Eddie Lang in 1927, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1977.

Frankie Trumbauer is remembered for his musical collaborations with Bix Beiderbecke, a relationship that produced some of the finest and most innovative jazz records of the late 1920s.

Frankie Trumbauer was featured in the 2001 documentary Jazz by Ken Burns on PBS on the topic of the first jazz soloists and as an iconic image to symbolize jazz music.

Frankie Trumbauer recruited Bix Beiderbecke for Jean Goldkette's Victor Recording Orchestra, of which he became musical director.

Frankie Trumbauer played with Whiteman for eight of the following nine years.

Frankie Trumbauer had a separate contract with OKeh from 1927 through 1930, he recorded some of the small group jazz recordings of the era, usually including Beiderbecke until the April 30,1929, session.

Frankie Trumbauer recorded a handful of sides in 1931 for Brunswick.

Frankie Trumbauer continued to work for the CAA after the war, and played in the NBC Orchestra.

Frankie Trumbauer died of a heart attack in Kansas City, Missouri, where he had made his home for some years.

Frankie Trumbauer was featured in Episode 3, "Our Language", in the 2001 documentary Jazz by Ken Burns on PBS on the topic of pioneering jazz soloists.

Frankie Trumbauer played the C-melody saxophone solos on the landmark jazz recording.