Conte Candoli (1927 - 2001)	December 16, 2001

Conte Candoli Courtesy Paul Mitchel Trumpeter Conte Candoli passed away on December 14th of cancer. His vibrant and influential style was an important voice in jazz for some forty-five years. Candoli joined the Woody Herman orchestra in 1945, just having left high school in Mishawaka, Indiana. He remained on the road with such important groups as the bands of Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie. Eventually he settled in Los Angeles, where he was a member of the "Tonight Show" band periodically from 1967 - 1972 and joined the band on a regular basis in 1972. He retired from that position in 1992 when Johnny Carson left the program. In Los Angeles he amassed an astounding number of recording credits, and always occupied a prominent position in the West Coast jazz scene. The esteem in which his colleagues held him is evidenced by this brief tribute received by ITG: The passing of Conte Candoli on December 14, 2001 will deeply affect so many people. In my case, it is like losing a father, a brother, and a best friend all in one. As a teenager, I went to sleep at night listening to his recordings. He was my private trumpet teacher at the Stan Kenton clinics in 1960. We played numerous big band gigs, shows, and sessions together. I cannot imagine the jazz world without him. He will always be a strong source of inspiration and integrity to me, and hopefully, to all of the young players coming up who need to listen to him....closely! Rest in peace, Count! Bobby Shew Sources: Eddie Shaughnessy, www.candoli.com, Todd Davidson

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