Dick Vance
Biography
Richard Thomas Vance was born in Mayfield, Kentucky, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, [1] where he learned violin before concentrating on trumpet.[2] He played in Cleveland with J. Frank Terry before joining Lil Armstrong's band in 1934.[1] He moved to New York City and played with Willie Bryant, Kaiser Marshall, and Fletcher Henderson (1936–38);[1] in Henderson's band he was lead trumpeter and occasionally sang. In 1939, he joined Chick Webb's orchestra, and remained in the group when Ella Fitzgerald took over leadership.[1] Following this he worked with Charlie Barnet, Don Redman, Eddie Heywood (1944–45), and Ben Webster. From 1944 to 1947 he studied at Juilliard, and moonlighted as a pit orchestra musician and an arranger. He arranged for Duke Ellington, Harry James, Cab Calloway, and Earl Hines.[1]
In 1950, Vance played once more with Fletcher Henderson in a sextet, then joined Duke Ellington's group in 1951-52.[1] He toured with Redman in 1953 and was a regular at the Savoy Ballroom throughout the 1950s.[1] He released two albums in the 1960s and toured with Eddie Barefield in 1969.
Vance died in New York City in July 1985, at the age of 69.[1]
Discography
- Duke Ellington, Liberian Suite (CBS, 1973)
- Eddie Heywood Jr., Eddie Heywood at the Piano and His Orchestra Lightly and Politely (Decca, 1956)
- Ella Fitzgerald, Webb On the Air (Jazz Trip, 1970)
- Ella Fitzgerald, Newport Jazz Festival Live at Carnegie Hall July 5 1973 (CBS, 1973)
- Ella Fitzgerald, Live from the Roseland Ballroom New York 1940 (Sunbeam, 1974)
- Fletcher Henderson, The Complete Fletcher Henderson 1927–1936 (RCA/Bluebird, 1976)
- Fletcher Henderson All Stars/Rex Stewart, The Big Reunion (Jazztone, 1958)
- Mary Lou Williams, Mary Lou Williams and Orchestra (Stinson, 1962)
- Paul Quinichette, Like Who? (United Artists, 1959)
- Sonny Stitt, Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass (Atlantic, 1962)
References
- Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 463. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2013-11-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)