[Dixielandjazz] Frank Rossolino

[Steve Barbone]

evidence at otelco.net wrote:

> My two pennies:  He butchered his family and then killed himself.
> There isn't anything that Frank Rossolino has to say on the trombone
> that I care to hear.

For those who may not know how Rosolino died, he shot his two young sons,
killing one. He then turned the gun on himself committing suicide. His wife
had committed suicide previously over an affair of Rosolino's with another
woman. A tragic series of events.

The manner of his death was a shock to many who knew him. It amazed me, a
young man at the time, how Frank Rosolino, a man who seemingly enjoyed life,
and had a great sense of humor about life, ended his own and one son's, so
violently. As an old man today, I am starting to understand that perhaps all
of us have a dark side that we struggle to keep hidden. For Frank, perhaps
that dark side suddenly emerged and destroyed him.

A great tragedy for the man, his wife, his sons, and the music.

The International Trombone Association sponsors an annual competition in his
honor. For more information, links to the Frank Rosolino Memorial Fund
started by trombonist Conrad Herwig and a fantastic rendition of "All The
Thing You Are" by Rosolino, see:

http://nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu/~egtbone/

Cheers,
Steve Barbone