Gil Fuller

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Walter Gilbert "Gil" Fuller (April 14, 1920 - May 26, 1994) was an American jazz arranger. He is no relation to the jazz trumpeter and vocalist with the same name.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Fuller did extensive work writing and arranging for bandleaders such as Les Hite, Floyd Ray, Jimmie Lunceford, Billy Eckstine, and Tiny Bradshaw; he also worked with Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Machito and Tito Puente. After World War II he found himself increasingly in demand as a bebop arranger, for such musicians as Tadd Dameron, Gil Evans, and George Russell. Fuller's work with Dizzy Gillespie was of particular note, yielding the tunes "Manteca", "Swedish Suite", and "One Bass Hit".

Fuller started his own publishing company in 1957, and while he continued to work with some jazz musicians (including Stan Kenton in 1955 and again in the 1960s), he also branched out into film music and pop (with Ray Charles, among others). He recorded one album under his own name, The Scene Changes.

[edit] References

• Gil Fuller at All Music Guide