LEADER OF THE BAND: THE LIFE OF WOODY HERMAN.
Oxford University Press, NY/Oxford:, 1995. Illustrated. First Edition, first printing. Signed presentation from Lees on the front endpaper: "To Glenn/Keith from Gene Lees." It appears he misspelled "Keith." Gene Lees (1928-2010) was a music critic and lyricist for Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and Queen Latifa and others. This copy is presented to Glenn Willard (his stage name) and Keith Bee (his legal name). Willard [1916-1999] sang on national radio and played rhythm guitar and tenor sax in big bands in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, including Frank Sinatra's band. He sang on KFRC Radio, alongside Merv Griffin, and was featured on the nationally-broadcast Fitch Bandwagon with Don Ameche. He appeared many times with the Bud Moore orchestra at the Golden Gate Theater. In 1947 when Frank Sinatra sang at the Golden Gate, Willard was asked to play rhythm guitar in his band for eight shows a day for a full week. Woody Herman was a central figure in the development of jazz - a musical giant whose career spanned the big band and bebop eras. Gene Lees has spent close to a decade interviewing Herman's friends and fellow musicians to produce a vivid portrayal of the triumph and tragedy of a life in jazz. Tall 8vo., cloth & boards in dust jacket; 414 pages. Item #57013
Very Good (covers nice but very light stain lower corner of front cover; contents clean & tight); very nice d/j.
Price: $85.00