Sonny Dunham
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Sonny Dunham (November 16, 1911 - July 9, 1990) American trumpet player and bandleader.
Dunam began his musical career as a trombone player in the Boston area. In the late 1920s he moved to New York where he played with Ben Bernie for six months before moving onto Paul Tremaine's Orchestra in 1929. It was while he was working with Tremaine's group, where he also sang and arranged, that he switched to the trumpet.
In 1931, he left Tremaine and briefly led his own group calling it Sonny Dunham and his New York Yankees. He then joined the Casa Loma Orchestra, in 1932 where he became a popular soloist. He stayed until 1936 he when he formed another unsuccessful group. He lived in Europe for three months and in 1937 returned to the Casa Loma Orchestra.
After three years he again tried to start his own group in 1940. This time he had a success and toured the United States with his orchestra. He disbanded the band in 1951 and worked with Bernie Mann and Tommy Dorsey for a while before forming another group. He moved to Florida in the 1960s where he continued leading his band.
