Tiny Kahn
b. Norman Kahn, c.1923, New York City, New York, USA, d. 19 August 1953. After learning to play drums while in school, Kahn performed with a number of important and progressively-minded big bands of the late '40s—including those of Boyd Raeburn, Georgie Auld and Charlie Barnet. While with these bands Kahn began writing, and his arrangements for Chubby Jackson's band were especially successful. This aspect of his talent was also employed by Elliot Lawrence in the early '50s. Kahn's writing was an influence upon other young arrangers of the period, including Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel. Extremely overweight (his nickname was ironical), Kahn died of cardiac problems in August 1953.