- George Paxton
George Paxton was an American
big band leader,saxophonist ,composer , publisher, andarranger ofswing jazz music from the1930s to the late1940s ; as well aspresident and producer ofCoed Records , primarily adoo-wop label, from the late1950s to the mid1960s .Early career
He was born in
Jacksonville, Florida , and grew up inKearny, New Jersey , where he learned to play thesaxophone at a young age and was influenced by the music ofIsham Jones . In 1933, while still in high school, Paxton formed a six-man band with schoolmatesTony Mottola andHerbie Haymer . The three later moved toNew York City , where Paxton was hired to write arrangements for band leader andMeadowbrook Inn ownerFrank Dailey . [http://www.parabrisas.com/d_paxtong.php Solid! - George Paxton ] ] In the late 1930s, Paxton got a job withGeorge Hall's Orchestra as an arranger and tenor sax player. Paxton was able to convince Hall to hire his high school friend and skilled guitar playerTony Mottola for the group. In Hall's group, Paxton got to work with other talented young musicians likeJohnny Guarneri on piano andNick Fatool on drums. At this time, Paxton was also writing arrangements forDolly Dawn & Her Dawn Patrol . In the early 1940s, Paxton arranged music forBunny Berigan ,Bea Wain ,Charlie Spivak (along withSonny Burke andNelson Riddle ),Ina Ray Hutton ,Vaughn Monroe , andSammy Kaye .George Paxton and His Orchestra
After years of playing, arranging, and directing different groups around
New York City , Paxton formed his own orchestra in 1944. The group became popular in New York City, and a ten week engagement at theRoseland Ballroom turned into a one year run. Some of these performances were broadcast live on the radio, which helped gain the band some popularity. George Paxton and His Orchestra toured the East Coast of the United States and gained some acclaim by 1945. Vocalists included Alan Dale, Liza Morrow, Dick Merrick, and Gene Williams. Standout musicians were trumpeterGuy Key (sometimes "Kee") and saxophonistBoomie Richman (sometimes "Richmond"), as well as Andrew Ackers (piano), Romeo Penque (sax), Max Herman (trumpet), Vern Whitney (trombone),Doc Goldberg (bass),Nick Fatool (drums), and others. The orchestra's primary label was Majestic, however their songs were also released on the Guild, Hit, and MGM labels. Some of George Paxton's compositions and arrangements include: Paxonia, All of Me, Streamliner, This Can't Be Love, I'm Coming Virginia, Jug Night, and I'm Gonna See My Baby, among others.George Paxton, Inc.
In 1949, Paxton was offered the job directing the house orchestra at
The Capitol Theater inNew York City . [http://www.nfo.net/usa/p1.html#GPaxton nfo.net] ] While there, he started a music publishing company; George Paxton, Inc. One of his first publications was "There's No Tomorrow ", which became a big hit for Tony Martin.Coed Records
George Paxton and
Marvin Cane formed Coed Records, Inc. in New York City in 1958, and had offices at 1619 Broadway in theBrill Building . Paxton produced many of the songs on this label, most of which were of the East CoastDoo-wop group style, and some of these became hit songs of the day. Between 1958 and 1964, Coed's biggest acts includedthe Crests ,the Rivieras ,the Duprees ,the Harptones , andAdam Wade , among others. Paxton's big-band background came in particularly handy withthe Duprees , who combined group vocals with deliberately nostalgic swing orchestra backing on hits like "You Belong to Me" and "Why Don't You Believe Me." [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:fifwxqtdldde allmusic ((( The Best of Coed Records > Overview ))) ] ] Other highlights includethe Crests ' "Sixteen Candles" and three songs from the group's so-called "angel series," "The Angels Listened In," "Pretty Little Angel," and "Trouble in Paradise". Coed Records went out of business by 1964.References
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