Johnny Mince
Encyclopedia
Johnny Mince was an American swing jazz clarinetist.
Mince played with Joe Haymes
from 1929 to 1934, and recorded with Red Norvo
and Glenn Miller
in 1935. He then worked with Ray Noble
in 1935-37 and Bob Crosby
in 1936 before joining Tommy Dorsey
in 1937. Mince played with Dorsey through 1941 and was one of the participants in his Clambake Seven recordings.
After an extended stint in the U.S. military (1941-45), Mince worked as a studio musician for several decades. He taught locally in New York
and played in small-time ensembles in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1974, he returned to play with the Dorsey Orchestra after Tommy's death. Following this he worked with the New Paul Whiteman
Orchestra (1976), Yank Lawson
, Bob Haggart
, and the World's Greatest Jazz Band
. As a member of the Great Eight, he toured Europe in 1983. He continued to play at jazz revival festivals until his retirement due to ill health. He recorded as a leader only late in his life, for Monmouth Evergreen in 1979, Jazzology Records
in 1980, and Fat Cat Jazz in 1982.
One of the top clarinetists of the swing era, Johnny Mince whose real name was John Muenzenberger never received much recognition beyond that of his fellow musicians because he did not lead his own band. When unknown, Tommy Dorsey invited Johnny to become Tommy's partner in starting his first band. Johnny's father Otto Muenzenberger talked him out of it due to risk.
Mince played with Joe Haymes
Joe Haymes
Joseph Lawrence Haymes was an American jazz bandleader and arranger.Born in Marshfield, Missouri, Haymes relocated with his family to Springfield, Missouri, after his railroader father was killed in an accident. Joe attended Greenwood Laboratory School in Springfield and was a drummer in the local...
from 1929 to 1934, and recorded with Red Norvo
Red Norvo
Red Norvo was one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba and later the vibraphone as viable jazz instruments...
and Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
in 1935. He then worked with Ray Noble
Ray Noble (musician)
Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day...
in 1935-37 and Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby
George Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
in 1936 before joining Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
in 1937. Mince played with Dorsey through 1941 and was one of the participants in his Clambake Seven recordings.
After an extended stint in the U.S. military (1941-45), Mince worked as a studio musician for several decades. He taught locally in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and played in small-time ensembles in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1974, he returned to play with the Dorsey Orchestra after Tommy's death. Following this he worked with the New Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
Orchestra (1976), Yank Lawson
Yank Lawson
John Rhea "Yank" Lawson was a jazz trumpeter known for Dixieland and swing music....
, Bob Haggart
Bob Haggart
Robert Sherwood Haggart was a dixieland jazz double bass player, composer and arranger...
, and the World's Greatest Jazz Band
World's Greatest Jazz Band
The World's Greatest Jazz Band was an all-star jazz ensemble active from 1968 to 1978.Dick Gibson founded the group at his sixth Jazz Party, an annual event. The group performed mostly Dixieland jazz and recorded extensively. It was co-led by Yank Lawson and Bob Haggart, and did early jazz...
. As a member of the Great Eight, he toured Europe in 1983. He continued to play at jazz revival festivals until his retirement due to ill health. He recorded as a leader only late in his life, for Monmouth Evergreen in 1979, Jazzology Records
Jazzology Records
Jazzology Records is a United States based record label specializing in traditional jazz.Jazzology was founded in 1949 by George H. Buck, who still runs it, now under the auspices of the George H. Buck, Jr. Foundation, dedicated to the preservation great jazz recordings...
in 1980, and Fat Cat Jazz in 1982.
One of the top clarinetists of the swing era, Johnny Mince whose real name was John Muenzenberger never received much recognition beyond that of his fellow musicians because he did not lead his own band. When unknown, Tommy Dorsey invited Johnny to become Tommy's partner in starting his first band. Johnny's father Otto Muenzenberger talked him out of it due to risk.