Jazzman Barney Kessel Dies at 80
By Chris Morris
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Jazz and pop guitarist, arranger, writer, producer and label exec Barney Kessel died May 6 of brain cancer in San Diego. He was 80.
Born in Muskogee, Okla., Kessel began playing professionally at age 14. He was influenced by seminal jazz electric guitarist Charlie Christian and worked with the big bands of Benny Goodman, Chico Marx of the Marx Brothers, Charlie Barnet and Artie Shaw.
Kessel joined legendary bop altoist Charlie Parker's group in 1946. In the early '50s, he was a member, with bassist Ray Brown, of pianist Oscar Peterson's renowned trio.
He also toured and recorded with Ella Fitzgerald (news) and Lester Young and joined Norman Granz's "Jazz at the Philharmonic" stable.
From 1956 to 1960, Kessel was head of A&R for Verve Records. He produced and played on many sessions for the label and signed vocalist Ricky Nelson (news) (whose father, Ozzie, worked with Kessel during the big-band era).
As a sideman, Kessel worked with such talents as Ben Webster, Sarah Vaughan (news), Art Tatum, Anita O'Day, Benny Carter, Sonny Rollins and Billie Holiday (news).
He also backed pop talents as diverse as Frank Sinatra (news), Judy Garland (news), Dean Martin (news), Barbra Streisand (news), Fred Astaire (news), Marlene Dietrich (news), Sam Cooke (news), the Beach Boys and Elvis Presley (news).
He cut countless Los Angeles studio sessions, including many for producer Phil Spector. He was also a prolific commercial and soundtrack player.
Kessel made more than 60 albums as a leader or featured soloist. He toured widely with Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd as the Great Guitars.
Kessel is survived by his wife, Phyllis, and sons David and Dan.
Reuters/Billboard
Barney Kessel Dies at 80
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