Brad Gowans
b. Arthur Bradford Gowans, 3 December 1903, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA, d. 8 September 1954. A child prodigy on a wide range of brass and reed instruments, Gowans first played professionally in the early and mid-20s, happily switching back and forth between instruments. Among the bands with which he played were those led by Joe Venuti, Mal Hallett, Jimmy Durante and Red Nichols. After a spell outside music he joined Bobby Hackett in 1936 and during the next few years worked with Joe Marsala, Bud Freeman, Ray McKinley, Art Hodes and Eddie Condon. After World War II he played with Max Kaminsky, Jimmy Dorsey and Nappy Lamare, again using a variety of instruments but notably the valve-trombone. Apart from his extraordinary instrumental command, Gowans was also a good arranger, supplying charts in a range of styles for McKinley's big band, for Freeman's small group and for singer Lee Wiley.