Pete Candoli American jazz trumpeter Date of Birth: 28.06.1923 Country: USA

1. Biography of Pete Candoli
2. The Superman of Jazz
3. Collaborations and Success
4. The Candoli Brothers
5. Personal Life and Legacy

Biography of Pete Candoli

Pete Candoli, born Walter Joseph Candoli in 1923 in Mishawaka, Indiana, was an American jazz trumpeter. He began playing the trumpet as a teenager and quickly gained recognition for his talent. He joined several big bands, including the popular Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, in the mid-1940s as he searched for the right musical group to join.

The Superman of Jazz

Candoli's incredible ability to hit incredibly high notes on the trumpet brought him immense popularity and respect among musicians. Woody Herman, a renowned clarinetist, even created a special act for Candoli where he would come on stage dressed as Superman and hit piercingly high notes. Audiences loved this unique trumpeter, and his reputation continued to grow.

Collaborations and Success

In 1955, Candoli moved to Los Angeles where his career took a more serious turn. He began working on significant jazz projects and started earning a decent living from his music. He composed and recorded music for commercials, television shows, and films. Additionally, he started recording on other musicians' albums. During this period, he had the opportunity to play trumpet parts for artists such as Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and Ella Fitzgerald. His famous trumpet also featured on the renowned soundtrack of the television show "Peter Gunn" performed by the Henry Mancini ensemble, introducing jazz to many Americans through television.

The Candoli Brothers

From 1957 to 1962, Pete Candoli collaborated with another iconic jazz trumpeter, Conte Candoli, his younger brother, in a collective. After 1962, the group disbanded, but the brothers occasionally performed together at various jazz festivals and concerts. In February 2002, Pete Candoli performed alone at the Lionel Hampton Festival in Idaho, dedicating his performance to the memory of his brother, Conte, who passed away a few weeks prior.

Personal Life and Legacy

Pete Candoli was married multiple times, and jokes circulated about his numerous marriages. However, he only had three weddings. He had two daughters, Tara Claire and Caroline, from different marriages, including one with actress and singer Betty Hutton. Sadly, both Candoli brothers passed away from the same illness - prostate cancer. Conte died at the age of 74, while Pete Candoli lived until the age of 83, passing away on January 11, 2008. During his lifetime, Candoli was inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997 and received numerous music awards and accolades. He was named one of the seven greatest jazz trumpeters by "Look" magazine.