Jimmy Gemus
Jimmy Gemus (* 1920 or 1921 in Johnstown , Pennsylvania ; † March 20, 2016 ) was an American jazz , theater and studio musician (flute, also clarinet and tenor saxophone).
Live and act
Gemus comes from an Italian immigrant family; his father had been a shepherd in Sicily who carved his own flutes. After graduating from high school, Gemus played in the early 1940s for Red Norvo , on whose recordings for Columbia (including with Mildred Bailey ) he was involved. He did his military service in World War II in a Special Services unit and played as a musician in troop entertainment. After the war he toured with Shep Fields and in 1947 with Claude Thornhill . In the field of jazz he was involved in six recording sessions between 1942 and 1947.
In the following years Gemus played in Broadway orchestras in productions such as West Side Story , Lorelei, Kiss Me, Kate and Applause ; he also worked as a studio musician. One of the highlights of his career was the tour with the opera singer Roberta Peters , whom he accompanied as a flautist. Gemus died in March 2016 at the age of 95.
Web links
- Jimmy Gemus at Allmusic (English)
- Jimmy Gemus at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Obituary of the musicians' union Local 802
- ↑ Tom Lord The Jazz Discography (online, accessed May 9, 2016)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Gemus, Jimmy |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz, theater and studio musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1920 or 1921 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Johnstown , Pennsylvania |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 20, 2016 |