Frankie Trumbauer

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Frankie (Tram) Trumbauer (1901–1956) was one of the leading jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s. He played C melody saxophone, which in size is between an alto and tenor saxophone.

Trumbauer is, more than anything, remembered for being the musical companion of Bix Beiderbecke, a companionship that produced some of the finest and most innovative jazz records of the late 1920s.

He recruited Bix Beiderbecke for Jean Goldkette's Victor Recording Orchestra, of which he became musical director. In the late 1920s he cut several popular sides with Beiderbecke, including the legendary "Singin' the Blues." After leaving Goldkette, he and Beiderbecke worked briefly for Adrian Rollini, then joined Paul Whiteman's band in 1927. He played with Whiteman for eight of the following nine years.

In 1936 he led the Three T's, featuring the Teagarden brothers; in 1938, he and Manny Klein started a band which they co-led. During World War II, he was assigned to the Civil Aeronautics Authority, where he was a test pilot. He continued to work for the CAA after the war, and also played in the NBC Orchestra. After 1947, although he continued to play and record, he earned most of his income outside music.

Trumbauer's cool style and slow vibrato influenced many important saxophonists, including Benny Carter and Lester Young.