Biography
4 February 1927, Orangeburg, New Jersey, USA, d. 14 August 1969, New York City, New York, USA. Raised in an orphanage until the age of 14, Fruscella started playing trumpet the following year. Largely self-taught, he did later study under Jerome Canudie. While serving in the US Army, in 1945, he played trumpet in an army band. On his release, he played professionally with various bands, including that led by alto saxophonist Chuck Maure. In 1950, he worked with Lester Young, following this with spells with trumpeter Don Joseph, Brew Moore, Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, Young again, and in 1955 he had an eight-month engagement with Stan Getz. That same year, he made his own name debut for Atlantic Records. Although the result was very well received by critics and public alike, Fruscella’s career was soon severely damaged by his drug addiction. From the end of the 50s, he played occasionally with Joseph but he was unable to achieve anything of...
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