[Dixielandjazz] Jazz Pianist Pete Jolly Obit

[dingle]

Steve barbone wrote:

>Perhaps not as well known by OKOMers as other musos. However He did play
>with Red Norvo and is well known (or should be) in California, if not
>worldwide. 
>
>Note, as Phil Woods opined in "Downbeat", Jolly had to make his "living"
>commercially. Note also that he was of "Italian" extraction. :-) VBG.
>
>Cheers,
>Steve Barbone 
>
>
>
>November 9, 2004 - NY TIMES - By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
>
>Pete Jolly, 72, Keyboardist in Jazz and TV, Is Dead
>
>LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pete Jolly, a keyboardist who was a regular on the
>Southern California jazz scene for 40 years and whose playing was heard on
>some of television's most popular theme songs, died on Saturday in Pasadena.
>He was 72.
>
>The cause was complications of bone marrow cancer and irregular heartbeat,
>The Los Angeles Times reported.
>
>Mr. Jolly, whose composition "Little Bird" was nominated for a Grammy Award
>in 1963, formed the Pete Jolly Trio in 1964 with the drummer Nick Martinis
>and the bassist Chuck Berghofer. The group continued to play Southern
>California clubs until Mr. Jolly was hospitalized in August.
>
>Mr. Jolly, who played piano, organ and accordion, was heard on television
>theme songs including "Get Smart," "The Love Boat," "I Spy," Mannix,"
>"Dallas" and "M*A*S*H," as well as on hundreds of movie soundtracks,
>including "The Man With the Golden Arm" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance
>Kid."
>
>His recordings included "The Sensational Pete Jolly Gases Everybody" (1963),
>"Strike Up the Band" (1980) and "Yeah!" (1995). His last album,
>"Collaboration," was recorded with the Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren and
>released in 2001.
>
>Born Peter Ceragioli Jr. in New Haven, Conn., Mr. Jolly began playing the
>accordion at 3. At 7, he appeared on the coast-to-coast radio broadcast
>"Hobby Lobby," on which the announcer mispronounced his name as "Pete
>Jolly." 
>
>Mr. Jolly, whose father was also a musician, began playing in bands in
>junior high school. Over the years, he worked with jazz stars including
>Buddy DeFranco, Red Norvo and Art Pepper.
>
>
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>