Bobby Hackett

Bobby Hackett

Source: Rhode Island Music Hall

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on 31 January 1915, trumpeter, Bobby Hackett, was one of nine poor children who quit school at age fourteen to perform on guitar and violin at a Chinese restaurant. His musical hero became Louis Armstrong whence he took up cornet and trumpet. Rotating through several bands in New York City including Dixieland, he began his recording career with the band of Dick Robertson on 24 March 1937 per ''Little Old Lady' / 'Too Marvelous for Words' (Decca 1209) and 'My Little Buckaroo' / 'September in the Rain'' (Decca 1215) [Lord]. Hackett backed Robertson's band into 1939 [Lord]. Seven months later he appeared with the Vic Schoen Orchestra, recording 'Why Talk About Love?' and 'Just a Simple Melody' (Decca 1496) with the Andrews Sisters in New York City on October 14, 1937. Four tracks then ensued with the Frank Froeba Orchestra on the 18th including such as 'My Swiss Hill Billy and 'Miles Apart'.

'My Little Buckaroo'   Bobby Hackett w Dick Robertson & His Orchestra

Hackett's third-known recording

24 March 1937 in NYC    Matrix 62076-A   Decca 1215

Trumpet: Hackett   Trombone: Al Philburn   Clarinet: Sid Trucker

Piano: Frank Signorelli   Guitar: Frank Victor

Bass: Haig Stephens   Drums: Stan King   Vocal: Robertson

 Composition: M.K. Jerome / Jack Scholl

'Why Talk About Love'   Bobby Hackett w the Andrews Sisters

14 Oct 1937 in NYC    Matrix 62686   Decca 1496

Vic Schoen Orchestra

The Andrews Sisters: LaVerne / Maxene / Patty

Cornet: Hackett   Trombone: Al Philburn   Clarinet: Don Watt

Piano: Frank Froeba   Guitar: Dave Barbour

Bass: Haig Stephens   Drums: Stan King

 Composition: Lew Pollack / Sidney D. Mitchell

'Just a Simple Melody'   Bobby Hackett w the Andrews Sisters

14 Oct 1937 in NYC    Matrix 62687   Decca 1496

Vic Schoen Orchestra

The Andrews Sisters: LaVerne / Maxene / Patty

Cornet: Hackett   Trombone: Al Philburn   Clarinet: Don Watt

Piano: Frank Froeba   Guitar: Dave Barbour

Bass: Haig Stephens   Drums: Stan King

 Composition: Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin

'Tears In My Heart'   Bobby Hackett w the Frank Froeba Orchestra

18 Oct 1937 in NYC   Matrix 62694   Decca 1500

Cornet: Hackett   Trombone: Buddy Morrow

Clarinet / alto sax: Don Watt / Milt Yaner / Sal Franzella

Tenor sax: John Sadola   Piano: Frank Froeba

Bass: Haig Stephens   Drums: Al Sidell   Vocal: Bill Darnell

 Composition: Teddy Powell / Leonard Whitcup

With above 467 sessions to his name, 158 of those as a leader, among Hackett's more important partners was guitarist, Eddie Condon, whose sWindy City Seven Hackett joined to record such as two takes each of 'Love Is Just Around the Corner and 'Ja-da' on January 17, 1938. One take of each was issued on Commodore 500. The next month Condon supported Hackett in his first session as a leader, putting down such as 'You, You and Especially You' (Vocalion 4142) with vocalist, Lola Bard. Condon and Hackett were nigh the left and right rail of the same track for more than a decade, both supporting each other's projects and those of others to 1950. They would reunite in 1955, later in the sixties and lastly on July, 1974, for a tribute to Ben Webster at Carnegie Hall: 'Avalon', 'Lady Be Good', 'Don't Blame Me', et al.

'You, You and Especially You'   Bobby Hackett w Eddie Condon

16 Feb 1938 in NYC   Matrix M-754-1   Vocalion 4142

Cornet: Hackett   Trombone: Buddy Morrow

Clarinet / alto sax: Don Watt / Milt Yaner / Sal Franzella

Tenor sax: John Sadola   Piano: Frank Froeba   Guitar: Condon

Bass: Haig Stephens   Drums: Al Sidell   Vocal: Lola Bard

 Composition: Teddy Powell / Leonard Whitcup

'At the Jazz and Ball'   Bobby Hackett & His Band w Eddie Condon

From the film 'Saturday Night Swing Club'

Vitaphone #B126

Recorded possibly 18 Feb 1938 in NYC   Filmed possibly in April 1938

Released 30 July 1938

Cornet: Hackett   Trombone: George Brunies   Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell

Piano: Dave Bowman   Banjo: Condon

Bass: Clyde Newcomb   Drums: Johnny Blowers

 Composition: Nick LaRocca / Larry Shields   1917

Per Tom Lord:

Recorded again on 25 June 1938 for the 'Saturday Night Swing Club' radio broadcast

IMDb   Jazz On Film

The band that early put Hackett's career into high gear and with which he began to distinguish himself was Glenn Miller's orchestra, which he joined in time for a number of 'Chesterfield Show' broadcasts from Eastwood Gardens in Detroit, Michigan, in July of 1941, resulting in such as 'Ida' and 'Measure for Measure'. Hackett's time with Miller was highly productive though relatively short-lived, he last to sit in Miller's band on September 24, 1942, for another 'Chesterfield Show' before Miller folded up shop, joined the military per World War II and didn't came back.

'Sunset Serenade' (radio broadcast)  Bobby Hackett w Glenn Miller & His Orchestra

NBC radio broadcast from the Steel Pier in Atlantic City NJ

30 Aug 1941   See Soundcraft 1001 / Jazz Hour JH1021

'Sunset Serenade' (radio broadcast)  Bobby Hackett w Glenn Miller & His Orchestra

NBC radio broadcast from the Cafe Rouge at the Hotel Pennsylvania in NYC

29 Nov 1941   See Jazz Hour JH4002   Other titles on various Victor

'When Your Lover Has Gone'   Bobby Hackett w Eddie Condon & His Orchestra

13 Dec 1944 in NYC   Matrix 72619-A   Decca 23393

Trumpet: Hackett / Billy Butterfield / Max Kaminsky

Trombone: Jack Teagarden   Baritone sax: Ernie Caceres

Piano: Gene Schroeder   Guitar: Condon

Bass: Bob Haggart (arrangement)   Drums: George Wettling

 Composition: E.A Swan

In 1953 Hackett was asked to play on Jackie Gleason's first mood music album: 'Music for Lovers Only' which included 'My Funny Valentine'. Hackett played on the next ten Gleason albums as well. (Jackie Gleason himself was an extraordinary television comedian: 'The Honeymooners', 'The Jackie Gleason Show'. But he was merely a front man to all the beautiful mood music that was produced in his name. Gleason himself played no instruments, nor composed nor arranged any music.

'It All Depends On You'   Bobby Hackett

Sometime 1953   From the Jackie Gleason album 'Music to Make You Misty'

Trumpet: Hackett / Billy Butterfield / Max Kaminsky

Trombone: Jack Teagarden   Baritone sax: Ernie Caceres

Piano: Gene Schroeder   Guitar: Condon

Bass: Bob Haggart (arrangement)   Drums: George Wettling

 Composition: Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson / Lew Brown

Another important musical associate of Hackett's, was trombonist, Jack Teagarden, with whom Hackett performed memorable duets. Theirs was a continuous companionship for more than a decade. Hackett's first tracks with Teagarden had been per above with Condon's Windy City Seven in 1938. Teagarden sided for Hackett on numerous occasions. They last recorded together for Teagarden's operation at the Hollywood Bowl on July 26, 1963.

'I Found a New Baby'   Bobby Hackett w Jack Teagarden

Sep 1957 in NYC   From the album 'Jazz Ultimate'

Trumpet: Hackett   Trombone: Teagarden   Clarinet / tenor sax: Peanuts Hucko

Piano: Gene Schroeder   Guitar: Billy Bauer

Bass: Jack Lesberg   Drums: Buzzy Drootin

 Composition: Jack Palmer / Spencer Williams   1926

Discogs

Another trombonist Hackett joined on multiple occasions was Vic Dickenson. They first recorded together on October 22, 1945, backing Peggy Lee with the Jubilee Allstars on 'You Was Right, Baby'. Dickenson often backed Hackett in 1951-52, 1955, 1963 and 1969-74. Their last session was in 1974 at the Carnegie concert per above with Eddie Condon in tribute to Ben Webster.

'This Is My Bag'   Bobby Hackett Quartet w Vic Dickenson   Album

Nov and/or December 1968 in NYC   Project3 PR5034SD

Cornet: Hackett   Trombone: Dickenson

Piano: Don Forestieri

Bass: Tito Russo   Drums: Joe Brancato

Discogs

Among other prominent musicians with whom Hackett performed was Zoot Sims. Tom Lord finds them first recording together on 30 December 1957 for a Timex All Star Jazz Show with Woody Herman. A decade later Sims supported Hackett's band on several sessions, one for the album 'Creole Cookin' on 30 January 1967. They then made a couple recordings in 1974, one for the album titled 'Strike Up the Band', then held a session the next month with vibraphonist, Peter Appleyard.

'Strike Up the Band'   Bobby Hackett

3 Aug 1974 in NYC   From the album 'Strike Up the Band'

Trumpet: Hackett   Tenor sax: Zoot Sims

Piano: Hank Jones   Guitar: Bucky Pizzarelli

Bass: Richard Davis   Drums: Mel Lewis   Arrangement: Glenn Osser

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin

Discogs

'After You've Gone'   Bobby Hackett w Peter Appleyard & the Jazz Giants

14 Sep 1974 in Toronto, Ontario

From the album 'The Lost Sessions' on Linus 270135

Cornet: Hackett   Trombone: Urbie Green   Tenor sax: Zoot Sims

Vibes: Appleyard   Piano: Hank Jones

Bass: Slam Stewart   Drums: Mel Lewis

Music: Turner Layton   Lyrics: Henry Creamer   1918

Discogs

Tom Lord traces Hackett to as late as 7 May 1975 for a live session at the Scotch & Sirloin Restaurant in Boston issued on Swing Time ST-011-H. That included such as 'Lover Come Back to Me' and 'How Come You Do Me Like You Do'. Hackett passed away a year later in Chatham, Massachusetts, on 7 June 1976.