Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Abraham Samuel “Boomie” Richman was born on April 2, 1922 in Brockton, Massachusetts and began his career as a tenor saxophonist playing locally in his hometown. Moving to New York at twenty and within three years became a key soloist with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, a gig that lasted for six years at the height of the big band era. Playing a Selmer Tenor Mark VI saxophone with a baritone reed with a wide flare created a very expensive sound for the tenor who also played clarinet, bass clarinet, piccolo and flute.

Following his leaving the Dorsey band he were spent as a session player for the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Lena Horne, Sammy Davis, Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland and Buddy Holly.

Richman played with Benny Goodman off and on throughout the early fifties. Upon his retirement from Goodman in 1956, he became the ‘first-call’ studio ace in New York City recording for television and radio commercials. This had him playing on shows hosted by Jimmy Dean, Perry Como, Dick Cavett, Patti Page, Pat Boone and Andy Williams. His last recording was for the movie The Godfather. His swing-based style remained unchanged well into the eighties when he retired from the music scene.

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