Biography
Irving Henry Prestopnik, 10 December 1912, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, d. 29 March 1949, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. In his teens and early twenties Fazola played clarinet with several noted New Orleans-based bandleaders, including Louis Prima and Joseph "Sharkey" Bonano. Although he played frequently with dixieland-style bands, Fazola's classical training made him eligible for many of the more chart-bound big bands of the swing era. In the 30s his pugilistic nature took him on a headlong dash through numerous jobs, including work with Ben Pollack, Glenn Miller, Jimmy McPartland, Claude Thornhill, Muggsy Spanier and the band with which he attracted most attention, Bob Crosby's. His fiery, ill-tempered nature led him into several violent fights and he was also a heavy drinker and a womanizer. Despite his erratic private life, Fazola was a distinguished and polished performer and with a different nature might well have made the big time as a featured artist. But...
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