Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Johnny Richards was born Juan Manuel Cascales on November 2, 1911 in Toluca, Mexico to a Spanish father and a Mexican mother. He came to the United States in 1919 through Laredo, Texas along with his mother, three brothers and a sister. The family first lived  in Los Angeles, California and then in San Fernando, California, where he and two brothers attended and graduated from San Fernando High School.

1930 saw Richards living in Fullerton, California where he attended Fullerton College. Working in Los Angeles from the late 1930s to 1952, before moving to New York City. He had been arranging for Stan Kenton since 1950 and continued to do so through the mid-1960s. He also arranged for Charlie Barnet and Harry James.

He led his own bands throughout his career and composed the music for the popular song Young at Heart in 1953. The song was made famous by Frank Sinatra and was covered by numerous others.

Arranger and composer Johnny Richards transitioned on October 7, 1968 in New York City of a brain tumor.

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Three Wishes

The Baroness approached Al Grey and presented him with the question of three wishes and he replied to her:

1. “To have happiness.”
2. “Knowledge.”
3. “Understanding. I have no more to say.”

*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Samuel D. Margolis was born on November 1, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts. Early in his career he played locally with Shad Collins, Vic Dickenson, Bobby Hackett, Nat Pierce, and Rex Stewart.

Between 1954 and 1958 Sam worked extensively with Ruby Braff and as sidemen for other musicians, including Pee Wee Russell. He would continue working intermittently with Braff for several decades.

In 1970 Margolis appeared briefly in the parade scene in the Dick Van Dyke movie Some Kind of a Nut. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he played often in the New York area, with Ed Polcer, Buzzy Drootin, Max Kaminsky, Roy Eldridge, Tony Bennet, Claude Hopkins, Dill Jones, Vic Dickenson, and Red Balaban.

Clarinetist and saxophonist Sam Margolis, who near the end of his life moved to Deerfield Beach, Florida, transitioned from prostate cancer on March 27, 1996.

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