Don Fagerquist
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Don Fagerquist (born February 6, 1927 in Worcester, Massachusetts; died January 24, 1974), an excellent West Coast small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player, was a featured soloist with several name bands, including Mal Hallett (1943),Gene Krupa (1944-1950), Artie Shaw (1949-1950), Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five (1949-1950), Woody Herman (1951-1952), Les Brown (1953), and the Dave Pell Octet (1953-1959).
Despite high demand for his services as a lyrical soloist, he only recorded twice as a leader: a half-date for Capitol in 1955 (reissued as part of the Dave Pell Octet CD I Had the Craziest Dream) and a complete project for Mode in 1957 (Music to Fill a Void).
In 1956, Fagerquist signed on as a staff musician for Paramount Films, while still periodically recording with artists such as Shelly Manne, Mel Tormé, and Art Pepper.
Throughout the early- to mid-1960s, Fagerquist's solos could be heard on the recordings of Pete Rugolo, Frank Comstock, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Paul Weston, Si Zentner, Dean Martin and many others.
By 1966, health issues forced Fagerquist to withdraw from studio recording altogether. He died January 24, 1974, at his home in California.
