- Sammy Nestico
Samuel "Sammy" Lewis Nestico (born
February 6 ,1924 inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania ) is a prolific and well knowncomposer andarranger ofbig band music. Nestico is most known for his arrangements for theCount Basie orchestra.Education
He received a Bachelors degree in music education from
Duquesne University in 1950, and has since then received an honorary Doctor of Music degree there, as well as numerous awards.Career
He has been a professional music arranger since 1941, when he became a staff arranger for ABC radio station WCAE in Pittsburgh at age 17. During his career, he arranged music for the
Count Basie Orchestra (1967 - 1984), theUS Air Force Band (15 yrs) and theUS Marine Band (5 years) both inWashington, DC . In addition, he played the trombone in the big bands of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, and Charlie Barnet.Teaching
In 1998-1999 Nestico was a professor at the
University of Georgia , teaching commercial orchestration and conducting the Studio Orchestra, but was unable to find the necessary administrative support to remain there. He also directed music programs atPierce College , Los Angeles, CA, Westinghouse Memorial High School, and Wilmerding, PA.Television and film industry
During his long career in the television and film industry, he has arranged and conducted projects for artists such as
Bing Crosby ,Sarah Vaughan ,Toni Tennille ,Frank Sinatra ,Phil Collins ,Barbra Streisand ,Count Basie , and many others. As orchestrator, he has worked on nearly seventy television programs, including "", "Mannix ", "Charlie's Angels ", and "The Mod Squad ".He has also written commercial jingles for
Anheuser-Busch ,Zenith ,Ford Motor Company ,Mattel Toys , Pittsburgh Paints, the National Guard,Dodge , Remington Bank, Americard and more.Output
Sammy Nestico has published nearly 600 numbers for school groups and many for professional big bands.
List of arrangements and compositions
Big band arrangements
Concert Band arrangements
* Eldorado
* Malagueña
* The Clock Shoppe
* Silent Night
* Salute to American Jazz
* All through the Night
* Model T
* Light Vibrations
* Silver QuillClassical Arrangements
* A Study in Contrasts
* Reflective Mood (Trombone and Piano)olo Instrument Arrangements
* Portrait of A Trumpet (Trumpet and Concert Band)
* Persuasion (Alto Sax and Concert Band)External links
* http://www.sammynesticomusic.com/
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