Harold Betters
Harold Betters | |
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![]() Harold Betters in 1964 | |
Background information | |
Born | Connellsville, Pennsylvania | March 21, 1928
Died | October 11, 2020 | (aged 92)
Genres | Jazz, funk, easy listening |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Trombone |
Harold Betters (March 21, 1928 – October 11, 2020)[1] was an American jazz trombone player.
Early life and education
Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Betters was raised in Pittsburgh. While growing up, Betters' parents owned the Betters’ Grill and Hotel.[1] Betters studied music education at Ithaca College for two years before being drafted into the United States Army during World War II. After the war ended, Betters studied at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music for a year.[2][3]
Career
In 1952, Betters moved to Boston, where he met his wife, Marjorie. He toured with Dick Gregory and with the Ray Charles big band,[1] playing at the Apollo Theatre. Thereafter, he led his own quartet which included pianist John Thomas and Jerry Betters on drums.
In the early 1960s, Betters returned to Pittsburgh with his family, where he worked as a session musician and performed at the Crawford Grill with Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine, Roy Eldridge, and Sonny Rollins. Betters also performed in a group with his two brothers, one of whom was Jimmy (trumpet). Jimmy also played with the Molinaro marching band of Connellsville (est 1913) under direction of Amedeo Molinaro and Harold would occasionally join a parade.
Betters played in the style of Trummy Young and Bennie Green.[1]
In late 1964, Betters had his only chart appearance on the US Hot 100 when the track, "Do Anything You Wanna, (Pt. 1)", peaked at #74.[4]
Personal life
Betters died on October 11, 2020, at the age of 92.[1]
Discography
- At the Encore (Gateway, 1962)
- Takes Off (Gateway, 1963)
- Even Better (Gateway, 1964)
- Meets Slide Hampton (Gateway, 1964)
- The Big Horn (H.B. Records)
- Swingin' on the Railroad (Gateway, 1965)
- Ram-bunk-shush (Reprise, 1965)
- Do Anything You Wanna (Gateway, 1966)
- Out of Sight and Sound (Reprise, 1966)
- Funk City Express (Reprise, 1966)
- Jazz Showcase (Gateway, 1977)
- With Friends, Live in New York (2001)
References
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Harold Betters, known as 'Mr. Trombone,' dies at 92". Pittsburgh Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ Schachner, Robert W., Harold Betters, Live at the Encore. Gateway GLP. [liner notes]
- ^ "Obituary: Harold Betters, known as 'Mr. Trombone,' dies at 92". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 78.
- http://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/HaroldBetters
- http://jazzburgher.ning.com/profiles/blogs/pittsburgh-jazz-records-and
External links
- Official website
- Harold Betters discography at Discogs
- Articles with short description
- Short description is different from Wikidata
- Use mdy dates from October 2020
- Articles with hCards
- Articles with ISNI identifiers
- Articles with VIAF identifiers
- Articles with WorldCat Entities identifiers
- Articles with BNF identifiers
- Articles with BNFdata identifiers
- Articles with GND identifiers
- Articles with LCCN identifiers
- Articles with MusicBrainz identifiers
- 1928 births
- 2020 deaths
- American jazz trombonists
- American male trombonists
- Mainstream jazz trombonists
- Jazz musicians from Pittsburgh
- People from Connellsville, Pennsylvania
- Ithaca College alumni
- 21st-century trombonists
- 21st-century American male musicians
- American male jazz musicians