Jack Sheldon

Biography

30 November 1931, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. After studying trumpet as a child, Sheldon played professionally while still in his early teens. In the late 40s, now relocated in the Los Angeles area, he played with many leading west coast musicians, including Art Pepper, Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray. He was also closely associated with comedian Lenny Bruce. In 1955 he was one of the first of the west coast school to record for Pacific Jazz Records. In the mid-50s he recorded with the Curtis Counce group, which included Harold Land, and later in the decade with Dave Pell and Pepper. He also toured with Gray, Stan Kenton and Benny Goodman. In the 60s Sheldon’s natural wit brought him work as a stand-up comedian and he also took up acting, playing the lead in a US television series, What Makes Sammy Run? In the 70s he worked with various bands, big and small, including Goodman’s, Woody Herman’s and Bill Berry’s, and also led his own small bands...

Read the Full Biography of Jack Sheldon