Buddy Morrow - Early Days

Early Days

On a scholarship, at age 16, Morrow studied trombone with Ernest Horatio Clarke (1865–1947) at Juilliard (known then as the Institute of Musical Art) from October to December 1936. At age 17, he began playing trombone with Sharkey Bonano's Sharks Of Rhythm, an Eddie Condon group, recording compositions:

1. Mudhole Blues by Sharkey Bonano and Irving Fazola, Vocalion Records, 3353 (Oct 7, 1936)
2. Swing In Swing Out, by David Winstein, Vocalion Records, 3353 (Oct 7, 1936)
3. I'm Satisfied Withi My Gal, by Sharkey Bonano, Vocalion Records, 3380 (Oct 7, 1936)
4. High Society, by A.J. Piron, Clarence Williams, Porter Steele, Vocalion Records, 3380 (Oct 7, 1936)
5. When You're Smiling, by Fisher, Joe Goodwin, & Larry Shay, Vocalion Records, 3400 (Dec 4, 1936)
6. Mr. Brown Goes to Town, by David Winstein, Vocalion Records, 3400 (Dec 4, 1936)
7. Was It Clean?, by Sharkey Bonano, Vocalion Records, 3410 (Dec 4, 1936)
8. Blowing Off Steam, by David Winstein, Vocalion Records, 3410 (Dec 4, 1936)
9. Big Boy Blue, by Peter Tincturin, Jack Lawrence, Dan Howell, Vocalion Records, 3450 (Jan 29, 1937)
10. Old Fashioned Swing, by Winston Tharp & Joe Bishop, Vocalion Records, 3450 (Jan 29, 1937)
11. Swing Like a Rusty Gate, by David Winstein, Vocalion Records, 3470 (Jan 29, 1937)
12. Swingin' On The Swanee Shore, by Dave Cavanaugh, Don Redman, David, Vocalion Records, 3470 (Jan 29, 1937)

He then moved on to big bands, first Eddie Duchin, then Vincent Lopez. He eventually graduated to swing bands, first with Artie Shaw. He first became Muni Morrow, then Buddy Morrow, when he joined the Tommy Dorsey trombone section in 1938. In 1939, he performed with Paul Whiteman's Concert Orchestra for their Decca/Brunswick recording of Gershwin's Concerto in F.

In 1940, Morrow joined his former Shaw band-mate Tony Pastor and his band for a little while, but this was only a short detour on his way to replacing Ray Conniff in the Bob Crosby band. Shortly after, he joined the US Navy, during which, we recorded with Billy Butterfield leading a 10-piece band with three trombones — all accompanying Red McKenzie singing four arrangements, including "Sweet Lorraine" and "It's the talk of the Town."

After demobilization, Morrow joined Jimmy Dorsey's band, then went into radio freelancing as a studio musician. He began conducting odd sessions, which introduced him to bandleadlng. RCA Victor sponsored him as director of his own band in 1951. The band's first hit — "Night Train" by Jimmy Forrest — was a cross-over into rhythm and blues.