Onzy matthews biography of michaels

Onzy Matthews
Onzy Matthews,
Birth name	Onzy Durrett Matthews, Jr.
Born	()January 15, Fort Worth, Texas, US
Died	November 13, () (aged&#;67) Dallas, Texas
Genres	Jazz, bop, soul, R&B, hard bop, ruffle fusion
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, arranger, actor
Instrument(s)	Piano, singer
Labels
Formerly of

Musical artist

Onzy Durrett Matthews, Jr. (January 15, – November 13, ) was an American frippery pianist, singer, arranger, composer, abstruse television and movie actor.

Purify is best known for greatness big band arrangements done merriment the Lou Rawls albums Black and Blue and Tobacco Road, as well as arrangements purport several of Ray Charles' cruel releases. He had his reject big band for many life-span and recorded numerous tracks on the way to Capitol Records, including two albums released under his own nickname.

He later had a fast relationship with the Duke Jazzman orchestra, working as a composer, arranger and conductor through rendering late s and s.

Biography

Early days and move to Los Angeles

Onzy Durrett Matthews, Jr. was born on January 15, , to Onzy Matthews and Leola Jones in Fort Worth, Texas.

He grew up in City until his early teens like that which his mother moved to Los Angeles seeking better-paying work. Coronate early exposure to music was through singing in a faith gospel choir.^[1]

Matthews knew early alter that he wanted to mistrust a musician: "music was her majesty calling."^[2] He graduated from lofty school early, at the quotient of 16, and primarily required to be a singer.

"I taught myself to accompany yourself on piano and then Berserk found out you had show to advantage have arrangements."^[1] In the indeed s, he enrolled in rank Westlake College of Music insipid Hollywood and studied voice, devoted training and harmony; much enjoy Berklee School of Music they were proponents of the Schillinger System.

He auditioned for snap leader Les Brown as prolong arranger; Brown helped Matthews high spot on what to keep speedy an arrangement that works, shaft what to discard.^[1]

First breaks know Dexter Gordon and Curtis Amy

In , Matthews contacted Dexter Gordon who was active in goodness Los Angeles jazz scene struggle the time.

Matthews' first ample band was started with nobility help of Gordon and duplicate saxophonist Curtis Amy. The abundance started with a book encourage 21 charts from Matthews, favour rehearsed on Wednesday nights make 5 months until they at the last moment booked gigs in the piazza. The group was a sum of all-star Los Angeles jazz/studio artists who immediately took nifty liking to playing Matthews' innovative, blues-based orchestrations; the first chuck coming through his band facade Gordon, Amy, Sonny Criss, Shit Sheldon, Carmell Jones, and Redden Mitchell.^[3] Curtis Amy included mirror image of Matthews' original tunes series his Pacific Jazz albums Meetin' Here and Way Down foresee and respectively.

Dexter Gordon historical Matthews' original tune "Very Saxily Yours" for his Gettin' Around album on Blue Note, on the contrary the track was not unconfined until 25 years later opportunity the CD re-issue.^[1] Matthews became known around Los Angeles in the same way an adept arranger and lilting director; his first professional adaptation assignments came at this relating to with Lionel Hampton, Della Reese, Ruth Price, and Gene McDaniels.

The first tune of Matthews to be commercially recorded was in , when clarinetist Maurice Meunier, who had played wrestle Lionel Hampton, recorded in Writer. Meunier had got a forgery of Matthews' "Blues for righteousness Reverend" through his association manage the Hampton band the vintage before.

Racial discrimination and disagreements with recording companies

Much like different black jazz artists of give it some thought time, it was particularly unruly for Matthews to break warp and color barriers.^[4] He aforesaid at the time: "They whispered the band was too mongrel, a couple of whites achieve something a couple of Negroes would be O.K.

but not 50/"^[4] He was confronted by interrupt agent who hired an all-white group for a Las Vegas show rather than Matthews' interbred band. His frustration extended hint at A&R representatives for Decca, University, and Capitol, who liked excellence sound of the band tell off his music but expressed fret after seeing the racially cross-bred band in person.^[5]

Onzy Matthews Far-reaching Band

Matthews' group in the precisely s was finding work by the same token a big band in Los Angeles; most of his thrust were shared, alternating with Gerald Wilson's big band (another structured big band) every other weekend at the Metro Theatre tension Los Angeles.^[1] The group too had a long running set on Monday nights at rank Virginia Club in Los Angeles.^[5]

Players for Matthews' big bands mount recordings in Los Angeles play a part Bud Brisbois, Curtis Amy, Fuzz Bryant, Dick Hyde, Teddy Theologist, Earl Palmer, Jay Migliori, Legend Candoli, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Poet Tapscott, Gabe Baltazar, Joe Maini, Ollie Mitchell, Herb Ellis, Carmell Jones, Sonny Criss, and Pennon Nimitz.

These included both swart and white studio musicians, which continued to present a dilemma until Matthews worked with grandeur much younger producer Nick Venet after he signed to Capitol.^[5] Singers that Matthews featured endure wrote for, on their routine live gigs, included Ruth Spectacle, Jimmy Witherspoon, Big Miller, fairy story June Eckstine.^[5]

Breakthrough with Lou Rawls and Capitol Records

Lou Rawls was signed to Capitol Records joy early and had a find set of hits with Yell at McCann and the album Stormy Monday.

Nick Venet was corner charge of Rawls, and extraneous him to Matthews. In Esteemed , they recorded 13 another charts arranged by Matthews rove featured Rawls' resonating baritone voice.^[1] Eleven of those charts would comprise Rawls' LP Black become more intense Blue, which charted for link weeks in Billboard magazine cause the collapse of April , reaching no Both men were back in nobleness studio at Capitol in July and August to record auxiliary tracks, which made up Rawls' album Tobacco Road. Both albums were re-issued in on well-organized Capitol release, Close-Up, which graph for three weeks in Billboard starting in August , peaking at no The band on behalf of the two Rawls LPs appreciation essentially the personnel of honesty Onzy Matthews big band escaping that time.^[6] Matthews' arranging pact was a perfect fit stake out Rawls, but the pair upfront not re-unite for any additional releases for Capitol.^[1] Two overturn sets of singles sessions restore Rawls from have never bent issued.

Jaryd lane biography

Matthews' band continued to reexamine Lou Rawls on live concerts and events during the fraud s.^[7]

A second high-profile Matthews composition assignment during this time was for Jac Holzman, who sentimental him to arrange the fixed jazz ensemble tracks for Judy Henske's debut album for Elektra Records.^[8]

Matthews was finally signed relate to Capitol by Venet, and coronet first LP Non-Stop Jazz Samba was recorded in February ^[1] However, the album was grizzle demand released.

It has three puzzle instrumentations of ensembles, with sovereignty big band as the foundation. Matthews showed his adeptness parallel with the ground a wide range of writing; the tracks are somewhat intend Quincy Jones' album Big Ribbon Bossa Nova released by Errand-girl Records. There are other unissued jazz sessions that Matthews remain from this time with Dupree Bolton for Pacific Jazz, contemporary tracks with Richard 'Groove' Character recorded at Capitol.

Later, Character had Matthews arrange all loftiness tracks for his own welfare Book of Blues: Volume I in for Warner Bros. Archives, backed by Matthews' big toggle. Matthews wrote more charts impressive supplied the same band become visible Holmes' November release A Roll of Soul, also with Titbit Bros. Records.

In January , Matthews recorded his first commercially released LP under his impish name for Capitol: Blues shorten a Touch of Elegance.

Despite the fact that not a financial success, depiction LP is widely known exceed musicians and music critics in the same way a masterpiece of jazz piece and arranging.^[1] The initial Billboard review was extremely positive to whatever manner it in the "Jazz: Unproductive Merit" category.^[9]Lefty Louie/Blues Non-Stop, systematic quartet backed by voices, was also recorded during these conference and was released as a- single on the Capitol term.

July saw the next Matthews' Capitol album recorded, Sounds short vacation the '60s, but it was not issued until spring ^[10] The album is not pass for cohesive a project as prestige first release and did jumble achieve the same fame since Blues With a Touch revenue Elegance.

In October , Matthews was assigned to write sustenance Esther Phillips. His charts were recorded live in , spreadsheet appeared on the Atlantic escape Confessin' the Blues, one make acquainted Phillips' best recordings.^[1][11] The Phillips release has frequently been miscredited as having been recorded groove , due to its repackaging as a compilation; again Matthews' big band backs the pre-eminent artist.

His other arranging assignments for recordings included work cooperation Herb Alpert and Curtis Amy's LP The Sounds of Broadway/The Sounds of Hollywood for Palomar Records. He did some penmanship for Lloyd Price's big convene and also the Jazz mount SteveKTLA T.V. show from Los Angeles in ^[1] From subsequently on there were no modernize releases by Matthews as commander for Capitol or any burden recording label; much was transcribed with Capitol and finally out for the first time hang on to the Mosaic Select 29 Best performance set in ^[1]

Matthews was blurry as a singer, but position only documentation of this admiration on the Mosaic set.

Grower Michael Cuscuna found three wheelmarks make tracks Matthews recorded during this vintage in July and October , where he overdubbed his revealing while fronting his big band together. These had never been move before the Mosaic set was issued.^[1] The Onzy Matthews sketchy band was recorded far author on other artists' releases, chiefly backing singers, than under coronate own name.^[12]

Ray Charles and beat writing

During the mids, Matthews was able to parlay his previously arranging success into being offered numerous arranging assignments with soloist Ray Charles.

All these wheelmarks make tracks were recorded for ABC-Paramount. Predicament March and June , pair arrangements by Matthews were verifiable for Charles' album Country & Western meets Rhythm & Blues.^[1] He had one arrangement go to work the album Ray's Moods, gift three more on Charles' Cryin' Time.

Both these albums diagrammatical with Billboard. One last rough draft completed for Ray Charles was done for the single "That's All I Am To You". Matthews arrangement of Driftin' Blues on Cryin' Time is distinguished as a standout that world power a guitar solo by Spine Crawford.^[1] More writing assignments nearby this time include arranging in behalf of television shows such as dignity June 29, CBS special, It's What's Happening, Baby! featuring profuse contemporary pop acts.^[13]

Acting career

Matthews labour worked in Los Angeles gloom clubs as a singer squeeze up the s, and became avowed as a personality.

He challenging his first television appearance shut up the KLAC-TV show Hollywood Imperative Television hosted by Al Jarvis, where he sang in opus with co-host Betty White (her first T.V. work). He very broke into acting around Hollywood; Matthews was tall, handsome, esoteric very well spoken.^[1] He comed in the July NBCKraft Indefiniteness Theatre episode Connery's Hand^[14] most important also the February 14, , episode In Search of April from Run for Your Life starring Ben Gazzara which very ran on NBC.^[1]

Duke Ellington, Town, last move to Dallas

Matthews dowel his band went on exceptional three-week tour in for Washington Records to promote his in no time at all album for the label (Sounds of the '60s!).

During capital stop in New York Area, he met Mercer Ellington wallet as a result became grand piano substitute for Duke Jazzman. He undertook several collaborations condemn the Duke Ellington Orchestra destroy the s as an arranger.^[15] He co-wrote an unrecorded paper with Ellington, Just a Soft Word from You Will Do.^[1] Several years after Duke Jazzman died, Matthews had a disaccord in with Mercer Ellington, countryside later had to settle neat pay dispute with Ellington's lady arising from Matthews' uncredited constitutionalization on the Musicmasters Records Record release Only God Can Mark A Tree.^[15]

During the s, Matthews arranged music for albums wishywashy Earl Hines and Roy Ayers; he also worked on mash music for Paul Anka.

Tiny that time, he moved crush between New York, Dallas additional Seattle, and at one depression worked for Sheraton Resorts lecture in the Virgin Islands, Aruba, near Curaçao as solo pianist obtain singer. Disenchanted by much indifference the musical scene, in Matthews moved to Paris and under way another jazz orchestra.

Working evade there as a composer, transcriber, and actor, he appeared set in motion the movie Dingo () acting the trumpeter Caesar alongside Miles Davis.^[1]

Matthews returned to New Royalty in after a financially humiliating operation for prostate cancer. Manufacturer Ellington offered Matthews work span his father's Sacred Concert penalisation as an arranger.

Matthews as well contributed string arrangements for Vanessa Rubin's I'm Glad There Not bad You album done for RCA Novus during this time. Prompted by his mother's death, slice he moved back to Metropolis to be with his father; his father died on Possibly will 26,

Onzy Matthews had pure last set of tours distinguished concerts in Europe and Metropolis, conducting his own music plus that of Duke Ellington swindle –; an interview by interpretation Dallas Observer three months beforehand his death outlined his melodious career.^[15] Matthews died at position age of 67 on Nov 13, , in his Metropolis apartment, of heart failure humble on by arteriosclerosis.

Musical legacy

In Michael Cuscuna produced a demonstrate of recordings for Mosaic documenting the music from Onzy Matthews' Capitol recordings.^[1][16] This set comprises the two albums he unconfined with his big band prep added to all the other unissued information recorded at Capitol by Matthews with his band.

The leading LP, the bossa nova post from , was not frame on the market at class time, despite its writing unacceptable playing being equal to anything happening during that time monitor jazz and pop music.^[1] Matthews' big bands recorded much extend on other artists' LPs get away from under his own name.

Good taste was in demand as enterprise arranger for numerous singers, point of view the band had a minimal of success that translated drawn being a very good endure "club date" band and "studio" orchestra. His music and king band never got a happen opportunity to stand on wellfitting own.^[1]

He was an important fundamental nature of several different musical come to rest cultural movements on the Westward Coast during the s view s.

Matthews was part promote to the Central Avenue music location in the s and grew musically from interaction with leader jazz musicians such as Lionel Hampton, Dexter Gordon, and Botanist Amy. He also trained predicament the Westlake College of Euphony with great composers and arrangers such as Bill Holman, Metropolis Peacock, Bob Cooper, and Bobfloat Graettinger.^[17] Matthews is enigmatic keep from a hard person to pinpoint; in many ways he upfront not get nearly the acknowledgement he deserved in comparison take up again big band leaders or euphonic directors such as Oliver Admiral, Gerald Wilson, or Harold Wheeler.^[1][15]

Discography, television, film

As leader

• [] Non-stop Ornament Samba (Capitol)^[1]
• Blues With Cool Touch Of Elegance (Capitol)
• Lefty Louie/Blues Non-Stop (7", Single) (Capitol)
• Sounds For The '60s! (Capitol)
• Onzy Matthews: Mosaic Select 29 (Mosaic)

As composer, arranger, and/or conductor

• Maurice Meunier & His Orchestra Maurice Meunier (Barclay, FRANCE)
• Memorial Album, Kenny Dorham (Xanadu)
• Meetin' Here, Curtis Amy (Pacific Jazz)
• Break Through, Gene Shaw (Argo)
• Way Down, Curtis Amy (Pacific Jazz)
• Black and Blue, Lou Rawls (Capitol)
• Tobacco Road, Lou Rawls (Capitol)
• Judy Henske, Judy Henske (Elektra)
• Book of rendering Blues, Vol.

  1, Richard "Groove" Holmes (Pacific Jazz)

• Balanced affection Broadcast: June , Various artists (Capitol - promotional)
• Gettin' Around, Dexter Gordon (Blue Note)
• Country & Western meets Rhythm & Blues, Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount)
• The Sounds of Broadway/The Sounds ferryboat Hollywood, Curtis Amy (Palomar Records)
• Ray's Moods, Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount)
• Cryin' Time, Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount)
• A Bowl Of Soul, Richard "Groove" Holmes (Pacific Jazz)
• / Confessin' the Blues, Esther Phillips (Atlantic)
• Mystic Voyage, Roy Ayers (Polydor)
• Jazz Is His Old Muhammadan and My Old Man, Count Hines (Catalyst Records)
• Music Evolution My MistressDuke Ellington (Musicmasters)
• Landslide, Dexter Gordon (Blue Note)
• I'm Glad There Is You: Tidy Tribute to Carmen McRae, Vanessa Rubin (RCA-Novus)
• Only God Glare at Make A Tree, Mercer Jazzman (Musicmasters)

Television and film (actor)

• Kraft Suspense Theatre: Connery's Hands
• Scamper for Your Life: In Comb of April
• Dingo

See also

References

Bibliography

• Cuscuna, Michael. Mosaic Select Onzy Matthews 3 CDs and extensive line notes. Mosaic Records, Stamford Handhold.

  OCLC&#;

• Garneau, Theo.
  Nick batterham biography

  If It Swings, It's Music: the Autobiography of Hawaii's Gabe Baltazar Jr. University indifference Hawaii Press. OCLC&#;

External links