Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ray Wetzel was born on September 22, 1924 and played lead trumpet for Woody Herman from 1943 to 1945 and then with Stan Kenton from 1945 to 1948. In 1947 he recorded with the Metronome All-Stars, Vido Musso and Neal Hefti. The same year he married bass player Bonnie Addleman in 1949.

While with the Charlie Barnet Orchestra he played trumpet alongside Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen and Rolf Ericson. He played with his wife in Tommy Dorsey’s ensemble in 1950 and with Kenton again in 1951. While touring with Dorsey on August 17,1951, he was killed in a car crash at the age of 27.

Ray Wetzel, the greatly admired by his fellow trumpeters, never got the opportunity to record as a leader. He is credited with composing the Stan Kenton tune ‘Intermission Riff’.

Dose A Day – Blues Away

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