Buddy DeFranco
b. Boniface F. De Franco, 17 February 1923, Camden, New Jersey, USA. A child prodigy, De Franco won an amateur contest playing the clarinet while still only 14 years old. Four years later he was in Gene Krupa's band, then joined Charlie Barnet; and in 1944 became a featured player with Tommy Dorsey, who had been sponsor of the amateur contest that launched De Franco's career. After abortive attempts to establish his own big band, De Franco worked mostly with small groups, including those of Count Basie and Art Blakey and in 1954 toured Europe with Billie Holiday. In the '60s, he continued playing in small groups, sometimes under his own leadership, and also taught. In 1966 he became leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, a job which lasted until 1974. Since then he has mixed teaching with playing, touring extensively, recording and developing a long-standing musical relationship with Terry Gibbs. A marvellously accomplished player, De Franco has been criticized for sacrificing emotional depth for the sake of technique. While to some extent justifiable, this censure unfairly condemns a gifted musician who has consistently set for himself, and attained, the highest standards of performance.