This is intended to be a homage to very many musicians I've loved since I started listening to music. My intention is to tell what I know about them, hoping that those people who like them too, will help me fill numerous gaps, which I may have in their careers and discographies. Sorry, but there are no MP3 audio files here at all, just info (and love for the musicians).


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Thursday, 12 April 2012

Sonny Igoe (drums)


BANDS:
BANDPERIODDETAILS
Tommy Reed Orchestra [1946-1947] 
Ina Ray Hutton Orchestra [1946] 
Les Elgart Orchestra [1947] 
Benny Goodman Group [1948-1949]2 albums + 1 compilation
Woody Herman Orchestra [1950-1951]4 albums
Charlie Ventura Group [1953-1955]2 albums
Benny Goodman Group (again) [1962] 
Chuck Wayne Group  1 album
The NBC Orchestra   
The CBS Orchestra [?-1968] 
Dick Meldonian Orchestra   

BIOGRAPHY:

Great jazz drummer, Sonny Igoe was born Owen Joseph Igoe on October 8th, 1923 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.

Sonny Igoe


Sonny won a drum contest in 1940. He joined the Navy in 1942, who led him to his first musical job, with Tommy Reed.


TOMMY REED ORCHESTRA


Tommy Reed led an orchestra comprising former marines, including drummer Sonny Igoe during 1946 and 1947:

TOMMY REED ORCHESTRA #?
1946-1947
Tommy Reed
leader
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of Tommy Reed Orchestra (I know up to 3 members)
Already covered (1): Jake Hanna


LES ELGART ORCHESTRA


Sonny Igoe also played with Les Elgart Orchestra in 1947, but again, complete lack of additional info:

LES ELGART ORCHESTRA #?
1947
Les Elgart
leader
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of Les Elgart Orchestra (I know up to 3 members)
To be covered (1): Eddie Bert


INA RAY HUTTON ORCHESTRA


Sonny Igoe was a member of the all-male orchestra led by Ina Ray Hutton, probably in 1946 (or maybe 1948?):

INA RAY HUTTON ORCHESTRA #?
?
Ina Ray Hutton
vocals, leader
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!



BENNY GOODMAN GROUP


Sonny Igoe played in Benny Goodman Group (both as big band and as a sextet) from 1948 to 1949, but can´t find complete details.

This was Benny Goodman Big Band from December 1948 to January 1949, but I´m missing some musicians:

BENNY GOODMAN GROUP #?
Dec 48- Jan 49
Benny Goodman
clarinet, leader
Doug Mettome
trumpet
Nick Travis
trumpet
Howard Reich
trumpet
Al Stewart
trumpet
Eddie Bert
trombone
Milt Bernhart
trombone
George Monte
trombone
Wardell Gray
sax
Mitch Goldberg
sax
Eddie Wasserman
sax
Angelo Cicalese
sax
Larry Molinelli
sax
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!

This was Benny Goodman Big Band in March 1949:

BENNY GOODMAN GROUP #?
1949
Benny Goodman
clarinet, leader
Francis Beecher
guitar
Clyde Lombardi
bass
Buddy Greco
piano
Arnold Ross
piano
Doug Mettome
trumpet
Nick Travis
trumpet
Howard Reich
trumpet
Al Stewart
trumpet
Eddie Bert
trombone
Milt Bernhart
trombone
George Monte
trombone
Wardell Gray
sax
Mitch Goldberg
sax
Eddie Wasserman
sax
Angelo Cicalese
sax
Larry Molinelli
sax
Sonny Igoe
drums

And this was Benny Goodman Sextet, also in March 1949:

BENNY GOODMAN GROUP #?
1949
Benny Goodman
clarinet, leader
Francis Beecher
guitar
Clyde Lombardi
bass
Buddy Greco
piano
Doug Mettome
trumpet
Wardell Gray
sax
Sonny Igoe
drums

This was Benny Goodman Big Band in August 1949:

BENNY GOODMAN GROUP #?
1949
Benny Goodman
clarinet, leader
Emily Long
vocals
Francis Beecher
guitar
Bob Carter
bass
Buddy Greco
piano
Doug Mettome
trumpet
Nick Travis
trumpet
Howard Reich
trumpet
Al Stewart
trumpet
Ziggy Schatz
trumpet
John Wilson
trumpet
Eddie Bert
trombone
Billy Byers
trombone
George Monte
trombone
Mario Daone
trombone
Wardell Gray
sax
Mitch Goldberg
sax
Eddie Wasserman
sax
Angelo Cicalese
sax
Larry Molinelli
sax
Joe Casalaro
sax
Sonny Igoe
drums
+
The Clarinaders
vocals


WOODY HERMAN ORCHESTRA


Sonny Ingoe played with Woody Herman from 1950 to 1951, but I´ve been able to find only two lineups with him.

This was the Woody Herman 3rd Herd around July 1951:

WOODY HERMAN ORCHESTRA #?
1951
Woody Herman
clarinet, sax, vocals
Red Wooten
bass
Dave McKenna
piano
Roy Caton
trumpet
Don Fagerquist
trumpet
Johnny Macombe
trumpet
Doug Mettome
trumpet
Bill Perkins
sax
Dick Hafer
sax
Kenny Pinson
sax
Sam Staff
sax
Urbie Green
trombone
Jerry Dorn
trombone
Fred Lewis
trombone
Sonny Igoe
drums

Arno Marsh joins Woody Herman 3rd Herd in December 1951, replacing Kenny Pinson:

WOODY HERMAN ORCHESTRA #?
1951
Woody Herman
clarinet, sax, vocals
Chubby Jackson
bass
Nat Pierce
piano
Don Fagerquist
trumpet
Doug Mettome
trumpet
Bill Perkins
sax
Dick Hafer
sax
Arno Marsh
sax
Sam Staff
sax
Urbie Green
trombone
Jackie Green
trombone
Carl Fontana
trombone
Sonny Igoe
drums

Other info on members of Woody Herman Orchestra (I know up to 214 members)
Already covered (5): Nat Adderley, Bob Brookmeyer, Monty Budwig, Frank Foster, Jake Hanna
To be covered (208): John Adams, Pepper Adams, Tony Aless, Gene Ammons, Tom Anastas, Gary Anderson, Chuck Andrus, Danny Bank, Billy Bauer, John Bennett, Sonny Berman, Bill Berry, Eddie Bert, Joe Bishop, James Bolden, Johnny Bothwell, Jean Bowes, Oscar Brashear, Mike Brignola, Gordon Brisker, Alan Broadbent, John Bunch, Bob Burgess, Tim Burke, Ralph Burns,... up to 208 musicians.


CHARLIE VENTURA GROUP


Sonny Ingoe drummed for Charlie Ventura from 1953 to 1955, but I haven´t any other details:

CHARLIE VENTURA GROUP #?
?
Charlie Ventura
sax, leader
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of Charlie Ventura Group (I know up to 11 members)
To be covered (7): Billy Bean, Max Bennett, Conte Candoli, Stan Levey, Arno Marsh, Dave McKenna, Kai Winding


BENNY GOODMAN GROUP (again)


In 1962, Sonny Igoe rejoined Benny Goodman Group for a while:

BENNY GOODMAN GROUP #?
1962
Benny Goodman
clarinet, leader
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of Benny Goodman Group (I know up to 99 members)
Already covered (5): Milt Bernhart, Monty Budwig, Frank Foster, Hank Jones, Jimmy Wyble
To be covered (49): Pepper Adams, Georgie Auld, Danny Bank, Billy Bauer, Eddie Bert, John Bunch, Billy Byers, Mario Daone, Jerry Dodgion, Al Epstein, Nick Fatool, Carl Fontana, Russ Freeman, Herb Geller, Stan Getz, Terry Gibbs, Benny Goodman, Wardell Gray, Urbie Green, Lionel Hampton, Bill Harris, Harry James, Budd Johnson, Taft Jordan, Al Klink,... up to 49 musicians.


CHUCK WAYNE GROUP


Sonny Igoe also played for guitarist Chuck Wayne:

CHUCK WAYNE GROUP #?
?
Chuck Wayne
guitar
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!



NBC ORCHESTRA THE


Sonny Igoe played with the NBC Orchestra during a short period:

NBC ORCHESTRA THE #?
?
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!
The CBS Orchestraê

From there, he moved to The CBS Orchestra.



THE CBS ORCHESTRA


Sonny Igoe played with CBS Television Orchestra for several years, until 1968:

THE CBS ORCHESTRA #?
?-1968
êThe NBC Orchestra
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of The CBS Orchestra (I know up to 7 members)
Already covered (1): Hank Jones
To be covered (4): Anton Fig, Will Lee, Hal McKusick, Paul Shaffer


AND THEN...


Sonny Igoe


Then, he mostly dedicated to teaching drums.


DICK MELDONIAN ORCHESTRA


In recent years, Sonny Igoe joined Dick Meldonian Orchestra:

DICK MELDONIAN ORCHESTRA #?
?
Dick Meldonian
sax
Sonny Igoe
drums
+ others unknown to me. Help!

Other info on members of Dick Meldonian Orchestra (I know up to 2 members)
To be covered (1): Dick Meldonian

Tommy Igoe & Sonny Igoe


Sonny Igoe sadly passed away on March 28th, 2012 after a heart attack. He was 88. His legacy continues with his son, great drummer Tommy Igoe.


DISCOGRAPHY: (20 albums known to me - Status: In progress)

ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (9 credits)
  • An Evening with Charlie Ventura and Mary Ann McCall - Charlie Ventura and Mary Ann McCall (1954)

    • Members: Mary Ann McCall (RIP: Sonny Igoe, Dave McKenna, Charlie Ventura)
    • Producer: (RIP: Norman Granz)
  • Woody Herman - Woody Herman Herd (1984)

    • Members: Tony Aless, Roy Caton, Serge Chaloff, Dick Collins, Chuck Flores, Mickey Folus, Terry Gibbs, Jackie Green, Urbie Green, Dick Hafer, Marjorie Hyams, Art Mardigan, Sam Marowitz, Arno Marsh, Doug Mettome, Sam Staff, Herbie Steward, Bob Swift, Earl Swope (RIP: Gene Ammons, Billy Bauer, Sonny Berman, Ralph Burns, Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Al Cohn, Don Fagerquist, Carl Fontana, Stan Getz, Jimmy Giuffre, Bill Harris, Neal Hefti, Woody Herman, Sonny Igoe, Chubby Jackson, Red Kelly, Don Lamond, Dave McKenna, Red Mitchell, Jack Nimitz, Bill Perkins, Flip Phillips, Nat Pierce, Shorty Rogers, Ernie Royal, Zoot Sims, Cy Touff, Dave Tough, Phil Urso, Kai Winding)
    • Guests: Rolf Ericson, Don Ferrara, Bernie Glow, John Howell, Lou Levy, Reuben McFall, Joe Mondragon, Al Porcino, Frank Rehak, Bill Trujillo, Bart Varsalona, Charlie Walp, Ray Wetzel (RIP: Shelly Manne, Red Rodney, Stu Williamson)
  • Bird with the Herd - Charlie Parker & The Woody Herman Orchestra (02/1996)

    • Members: Roy Caton, Jerry Dorn, Urbie Green, Dick Hafer, Doug Mettome, Kenny Pinson, Sam Staff, Red Wooten (RIP: Don Fagerquist, Woody Herman, Sonny Igoe, Dave McKenna, Charlie Parker, Bill Perkins)
  • Stealin´ apples - Benny Goodman Small Groups (07/2000)

    • Members: (RIP: Benny Goodman, Wardell Gray, Sonny Igoe, Red Norvo, Mel Powell)
    • Guests: Joe Mondragon (RIP: Harry Babasin, Louie Bellson, Red Callender, Al Hendrickson, Don Lamond, Fats Navarro, Jimmy Rowles, Jess Stacy, Lee Young)
  • One night stand - live at The Hollywood Palladium - Woody Herman (07/2003)

    • Members: Roy Caton, Jerry Dorn, Urbie Green, Doug Mettome, Kenny Pinson, Sam Staff, Red Wooten (RIP: Sonny Berman, Don Fagerquist, Bill Harris, Woody Herman, Sonny Igoe, Dave McKenna, Red Norvo, Flip Phillips, Shorty Rogers, Phil Urso)
  • 1951-1953 - Charlie Ventura (08/2004)

    • Members: Max Bennett (RIP: Sonny Igoe, Roy Kral, Charlie Ventura)
    • Guests: (RIP: Chubby Jackson, Hank Jones, Jo Jones, Buddy Rich, Mel Torme)
  • One night stands - Benny Goodman And His Orchestra ( - )

    • Members: Doug Mettome (RIP: Benny Goodman, Wardell Gray, Sonny Igoe)
    • Comments: Live recordings from 1946 and 1948.
  • Bird´s eyes - last unissued, vol 23 - Charlie Parker ( - )

    • Members: Roy Caton, Jerry Dorn, Urbie Green, Fred Lewis, Doug Mettome, Kenny Pinson, Sam Staff, Red Wooten (RIP: Don Fagerquist, Woody Herman, Sonny Igoe, Dave McKenna, Charlie Parker, Bill Perkins)
    • Guests: Norman Keenan (RIP: Pearl Bailey, Eddie ´Lockjaw´ Davis, Charlie Holmes, Bud Powell, Eddie Vinson, Cootie Williams)
    • Comments: This collection of unreleased tracks features Charlie Parker live with the Woody Herman Orchestra.
  • String fever - Chuck Wayne ( - )

    • Members: (RIP: Sonny Igoe)
    • Guests: Sam Marowitz, Gene Quill, Sol Schlinger, Eddie Wasserman (RIP: Eddie Costa)
    • Producer: (RIP: Bob Rolontz)
    • Technical: Bob Irwin
    • Comments: CD reissue contains bonus tracks.
COMPILATIONS AS A BAND MEMBER (1 credit)
  • Undercurrent blues - Benny Goodman (1995)

    • Members: Eddie Bert, Al Epstein, Doug Mettome, Eddie Wasserman (RIP: Georgie Auld, Danny Bank, Milt Bernhart, Billy Byers, Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman, Wardell Gray, Sonny Igoe, Red Norvo, Chico O´Farrill, Mel Powell, Nick Travis, Zeke Zarchy)
    • Guests: Billy Butterfield, Skeets Herfurt, Don Kirkpatrick, Alvin Stoller (RIP: Dave Barbour, Don Byas, Sidney Catlett, Cozy Cole, Cutty Cutshall, Helen Forrest, Dick Haymes, Fletcher Henderson, Al Hendrickson, Jerry Jerome, Jo Jones, Peggy Lee, Jimmy Maxwell, Jimmy Mundy, Vido Musso, Fats Navarro, Bernie Privin, Babe Russin, Charlie Shavers, Jess Stacy, Cootie Williams, Mary Lou Williams, Trummy Young)
    • Producer: Michael Cuscuna
COMPILATIONS WITH BANDMATES AND FRIENDS (2 credits)
  • 1946-1950 - Wardell Gray (11/2002)

    • Members: (RIP: Wardell Gray)
    • Guests: Eddie Bert, Al Haig, Roy Haynes, Art Mardigan (RIP: Red Callender, Sonny Igoe, Dodo Marmarosa, Al McKibbon, Joe Newman, Buddy Stewart, Doc West)
  • The Wardell Gray story - Wardell Gray (03/2003)

    • Members: (RIP: Wardell Gray)
    • Guests: Eddie Bert, Sonny Criss, Charlie Drayton, Charlie Fowlkes, Matthew Gee, Freddie Green, Al Haig, Roy Haynes, Gus Johnson, Larance Marable, Art Mardigan, Doug Mettome, Joe Mondragon, Al Porcino, Jimmy Raney, Clark Terry, Eddie Wasserman, John Williams (RIP: Harry Babasin, Count Basie, Billy Bauer, Louie Bellson, Gladys Bentley, Billy Byers, Red Callender, Harry Carney, Kenny Clarke, Willie Cook, Tadd Dameron, Allen Eager, Billy Eckstine, Art Farmer, Russ Freeman, Benny Goodman, Dexter Gordon, John Graas, Rene Hall, Hampton Hawes, Al Hendrickson, Earl Hines, Sonny Igoe, Barney Kessel, Al Killian, Shelly Manne, Dodo Marmarosa, Wendell Marshall, Howard McGhee, Fats Navarro, Shorty Rogers, Marshall Royal, Willie Smith, Buddy Stewart, Billy Strayhorn, Lucky Thompson, Juan Tizol, Doc West, Gerald Wiggins, Mary Lou Williams, Teddy Wilson)
    • Comments: 4CD boxset compilation.
COLLECTIVE ALBUMS (1 credit)
  • The Four most guitars - VVAA (1956)

    • Guests: Teddy Kotick, Jimmy Raney (RIP: Russ Garcia, Sonny Igoe, Dave McKenna, Oscar Pettiford, Joe Puma, Dave Schildkraut)
    • Producer: Creed Taylor
    • Comments: Tracks recorded by guitarists Jimmy Raney, Russ Garcia & Joe Puma, and Chuck Wayne.
SESSIONS (3 credits)
  • Cloud 7 - Tony Bennett (1955)

    • Guests: Harvey Leonard, Ed Shaughnessy (RIP: Al Cohn, Sonny Igoe, Dave Schildkraut)
    • Producer: (RIP: Mitch Miller)
  • Mr C Sing to me - Perry Como (1961)

    • Members: (RIP: Perry Como)
    • Guests: Mel Davis, William Elliott, Bernie Glow, Urbie Green, Margaret Ross (RIP: Sonny Igoe, Tony Mottola, Alan Shulman)
    • Producer: (RIP: Hugo Peretti)
  • A Breath of fresh air - Marlene Ver Planck (1969)

    • Guests: James Buffington, Mel Davis, Urbie Green, Gene Orloff, Romeo Penque, Bucky Pizzarelli, Alan Raph, Margaret Ross, Jack Six, Tony Studd, Bill Watrous (RIP: Phil Bodner, Joe Harnell, Sonny Igoe, Hank Jones, Phil Kraus, Bill Lavorgna)
COMPILATIONS (SESSIONS) (4 credits)
  • Savina - Cozy Cole And All That Big Band Jazz! (06/2005)

    • Members: (RIP: Cozy Cole)
    • Guests: Kenny Burrell, Henderson Chambers, George Duvivier, Urbie Green, Jimmy Raney, Frank Rehak, Ed Shaughnessy, Joe Wilder (RIP: Don Abney, Pepper Adams, Billy Bauer, Barney Bigard, Kenny Clarke, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, Peanuts Hucko, Sonny Igoe, Hank Jones, Wendell Marshall, Nat Pierce, Bernie Privin, Ernie Royal, Mal Waldron, Wilbur Ware)
  • Young Tony - Tony Bennett (03/2007)

    • Guests: Harry Bluestone, Billy Butterfield, Sam Clayton, Wendell Culley, Charlie Fowlkes, Bernie Glow, Emanuel Green, Freddie Green, Urbie Green, Eddie Jones, Harry Klee, Harvey Leonard, Harry Lookofsky, Gene Orloff, Doc Severinsen, Ed Shaughnessy, Frank Wess (RIP: Count Basie, Phil Bodner, Will Bradley, Al Cohn, Henry Coker, Ray Conniff, Don Costa, Gil Evans, Frank Foster, Stan Freeman, Bernard Greenhouse, Al Grey, Bob Haggart, Neal Hefti, Sonny Igoe, Gordon Jenkins, Jimmy Jones, Thad Jones, Armand Kaproff, Al Klink, Phil Kraus, Yank Lawson, Bernie Leighton, Jimmy Maxwell, Mitch Miller, Joe Newman, Jimmy Nottingham, Sonny Payne, Benny Powell, Bernie Privin, Ernie Royal, Marshall Royal, Dave Schildkraut, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Snooky Young)
    • Comments: 4CD boxset.
  • The Jazz sides - Tony Bennett (02/2009)

    • Guests: Jimmy Bond, Candido Camero, Chico Hamilton, Bobby Jaspar, Harvey Leonard, John Pisano, Ed Shaughnessy, Billy Slapin (RIP: Nat Adderley, Art Blakey, Al Cohn, Eddie Costa, Percy Faith, Neal Hefti, Milt Hinton, Sonny Igoe, Jo Jones, Herbie Mann, Eddie Safranski, Dave Schildkraut, Spencer Sinatra, Kai Winding)
  • The Overwhelmin´ - Joe Williams ( - )

    • Members: (RIP: Joe Williams)
    • Guests: Ray Alonge, Kenny Burrell, Bob Cranshaw, Bernie Glow, Urbie Green, Junior Mance, Romeo Penque, Seldon Powell, Mickey Roker, Clark Terry, Phil Woods (RIP: Danny Bank, Phil Bodner, Barry Galbraith, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Hinton, Sonny Igoe, Quentin Jackson, Osie Johnson, Hank Jones, Jimmy Jones, Thad Jones, Bernie Leighton, Walter Levinsky, Howard McGhee, Jerome Richardson, Zoot Sims, Ben Webster, Snooky Young)

RELATED VIDEO LINKS: 4
Disclaimer: I don´t own or upload any of the videos linked here. I just include links to live videos that are already available, in order to show the work of this musician. Anyway, if someone feels that some link shouldn't be included, please write me at the email address shown below. And if you know of more videos featuring Sonny Igoe, please, also write me with the link.
RELATED MUSICIANS:

Sonny Igoe mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Urbie Green (9)
Clyde Lombardi (8)
Doug Mettome (7)
Gene DiNovi (6)
Mundell Lowe (6)
Dave McKenna (6)
Wardell Gray (5)
Buddy Greco (5)
Chuck Wayne (5)
Al Caiola (4)

Page created by Miguel Terol on: 12/April/2012 - Last modified on: 12/April/2012. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com

Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.

2 comments:

  1. I went to know Igoe's artistry while hearing Ventura & Kral on Turnpike, etc.
    His energy & presence is remarcable.
    May God bless his soul.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Benny Goodman March 26, 1962. CBS Television
    Mission to Moscow.
    Benny Goodman, Hank Jones piano, Trigger Alpert, bass, Sonny Igoe drums.

    Benny Goodman Band from december 1948-November 1949.
    First date December 1,1948 Hotel Syracuse , Syracuse N.Y.
    Buddy Greco piano, Francis (Franny) Beecher guitar, Clyde Lombardi bas, sometimes vocal by Buddy Greco, Terry Swope, The Clarinaders, Dolly Huston , The Heathertones..
    Al Stewart is also known as Al Goldberg. When Buddy greco sings : piano Arnold Ross, Bud Hermann or Dick Katz.
    Last recordingdate with Benny October 27, 1949 New York City.

    ReplyDelete

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