Thomas Robert Talbert (August 4, 1924Crystal Bay, Minnesota – July 2, 2005Los Angeles) was an Americanjazz pianist, composer, and band leader.[1]
He was born on August 4, 1924, inCrystal Bay, Minnesota, and grew up listening to big band music on the radio.[2]
He got started as a band leader when he was drafted in the Army in 1943, becoming composer for a military band at Fort Ord, California, performing for War Bond drives throughout California.[2]
In the late 1940s, he led his own big band on the West Coast, much of his work foreshadowing what became known asWest Coast jazz before moving to New York in the early 1950s after being denied a recording contract in LA[2]
In 1956, he recorded two records that would become his best known works,Wednesday's Child andBix Duke Fats, gaining him fleeting fame.
When rock and roll eclipsed jazz in popularity, he moved to his parents' home in Minnesota in 1960, tried his hand at cattle ranching in Wisconsin, before eventually moving back to Los Angeles and a musical career in 1975.
In addition to composing for TV and movie studios, he became involved in music education,[2] and set up a foundation to help talented young musicians, with one of the first recipients (in 1996) beingMaria Schneider.
He died July 2, 2005.[3]
Talbert has worked together with many other famous musicians. Some include:
Los Angeles in the 40s:
New York in the 50s:
As sideman
As leader
General references
Inline citations
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