Ray Wetzel
Background information
Born	(1924-09-22)September 22, 1924
Died	August 17, 1951(1951-08-17) (aged 26)
Genres	Jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Trumpet
Years active	1943–1951

Ray Wetzel (September 22, 1924 – August 17, 1951) was an Americanjazz trumpeter. CriticScott Yanow described him as "greatly admired by his fellow trumpeters".^[1]

Wetzel played lead trumpet forWoody Herman from 1943 to 1945 and forStan Kenton from 1945 to 1948. He recorded in 1947 with theMetronome All-Stars,Vido Musso, andNeal Hefti, and married bass playerBonnie Addleman in 1949. While with theCharlie Barnet Orchestra in 1949, he played trumpet alongsideMaynard Ferguson,Doc Severinsen, andRolf Ericson. He played with his wife inTommy Dorsey's ensemble in 1950 and with Kenton again in 1951.

While touring with Dorsey in 1951, he was killed in acar crash at the age of 27.^[1] He never recorded as a leader. He is credited with composing theStan Kenton tune 'Intermission Riff'.

WithStan Kenton

• Artistry in Rhythm (Capitol, 1946)
• Encores (Capitol, 1947)
• A Presentation of Progressive Jazz (Capitol, 1947)
• Stan Kenton's Milestones (Capitol, 1950)
• Stan Kenton Classics (Capitol, 1952)
• Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton (Capitol, 1953)
• The Kenton Era (Capitol, 1955)

• 1924 births
• 1951 deaths
• 20th-century American male musicians
• 20th-century American musicians
• 20th-century trumpeters
• American jazz trumpeters
• American male jazz musicians
• American male trumpeters

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