Pete Jolly
Encyclopedia
Pete Jolly was an American
West Coast jazz
pianist
and accordionist.
He was well-known for his performance of television
themes and various movie soundtracks. He began playing the accordion at age three, and appeared on the radio program Hobby Lobby at the age of seven.
His composition "Little Bird" (a minor hit on Fred Astaire
's Ava label) was nominated for a Grammy Award
in 1963, and he formed the Pete Jolly Trio in 1964. With the Trio and as a solo artist, he recorded several albums, the last of which was a 2000 collaboration with Jan Lundgren
. He also worked with other notable jazz artists, including Buddy DeFranco
, Art Pepper
and Red Norvo
, and for many years with EZ music arranger and director Ray Conniff
.
Jolly's music can be heard on television programs such as Get Smart
, The Love Boat
, I Spy, Mannix
, M*A*S*H and Dallas
, as well as hundreds of movie soundtrack
s.
Jolly continued to perform with his trio in Los Angeles jazz clubs until shortly before being hopitalized in August 2004.
He died in Pasadena, California
, from complications of multiple myeloma
in 2004, aged 72.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
West Coast jazz
West coast jazz
West Coast jazz refers to various styles of jazz music that developed around Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. West Coast jazz is often seen as a sub-genre of cool jazz, which featured a less frenetic, calmer style than bebop or hard bop. The music tended to be more heavily arranged,...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and accordionist.
He was well-known for his performance of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
themes and various movie soundtracks. He began playing the accordion at age three, and appeared on the radio program Hobby Lobby at the age of seven.
His composition "Little Bird" (a minor hit on Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
's Ava label) was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1963, and he formed the Pete Jolly Trio in 1964. With the Trio and as a solo artist, he recorded several albums, the last of which was a 2000 collaboration with Jan Lundgren
Jan Lundgren
Jan Lundgren is a Swedish jazz musician , known for his solo work, and his own jazz trio.Born in Kristianstad and raised in Ronneby, Jan Lundgren was formerly in the group "St...
. He also worked with other notable jazz artists, including Buddy DeFranco
Buddy DeFranco
Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco is an American jazz clarinet player.-Biography:DeFranco began his professional career just as swing music and big bands — many of which were led by clarinetists like Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman — were fading in popularity...
, Art Pepper
Art Pepper
Art Pepper , born Arthur Edward Pepper, Jr., was an American alto saxophonist and clarinetist.About Pepper, Scott Yanow of All Music stated, "In the 1950s he was one of the few altoists that was able to develop his own sound despite the dominant influence of Charlie Parker" and: "When Art Pepper...
and 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 for many years with EZ music arranger and director Ray Conniff
Ray Conniff
Joseph Raymond Conniff was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s.-Biography:...
.
Jolly's music can be heard on television programs such as Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
, The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
, I Spy, Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
, M*A*S*H and Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
, as well as hundreds of movie soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s.
Jolly continued to perform with his trio in Los Angeles jazz clubs until shortly before being hopitalized in August 2004.
He died in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, from complications of multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
in 2004, aged 72.
Recordings
- Jolly Jumps In, RCA Victor LPM 1105
- Duo, Trio, Quartet, RCA Victor LPM 1125
- When Lights are Low, RCA Victor LPM 1367
- Impossible, MetroJazz RecordsMetroJazz Records-Discography:...
SE-1014 - Continental Jazz, Stereo Fidelity SFS-11000
- The Sensational Pete Jolly Gasses Everybody, Charlie Parker PLP-825S
- Little Bird, Ava AS-22
- Sweet September, Ava AS-39
- 5 O'Clock Shadows, MGM SE-4127
- Too Much, Baby, Columbia CS-9197
- Herb AlpertHerb AlpertHerbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
Presents Pete Jolly, A&M SP-4145 - Give a Damn, A&M SP-4184
- Seasons, A&M SP-3033
- Strike Up the Band, Atlas 1003
- Pete Jolly Trio & Friends, VSOP 78
- Live in L.A.: Red Chimney and Sherry's Bar, VSOP 91
- Yours Truly, Bainbridge Records QCD-1007
- Gems, Holt Recordings HRCD-3303
- Yeah!, VSOP VSP 98
- Timeless, VSOP VSP 105
- Collaboration (with Jan Lundgren), Fresh Sounds FSRCD5038