{"id":5042,"date":"2013-08-30T16:47:12","date_gmt":"2013-08-30T23:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/rifftides\/?p=5042"},"modified":"2013-08-30T16:58:05","modified_gmt":"2013-08-30T23:58:05","slug":"correspondence-on-stan-kenton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/rifftides\/2013\/08\/correspondence-on-stan-kenton\/","title":{"rendered":"Correspondence: On Stan Kenton"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rifftides<\/em> reader Fred Augerman writes:<\/p>\n

\"Stan<\/a>Hi Doug, I was kind of surprised that there was no mention of the passing of Stan Kenton, which was on August 25, 1979!<\/p>\n

Here’s Shelly Manne’s very poignant tribute at the time of Stan’s passing.\"Shelly<\/a>
\n_________________________________________________________________________________________________
\nHe was a friend to all musicians.<\/p>\n

He was like a Father.<\/p>\n

He was like a psychiatrist.<\/p>\n

He was the guy next to you on the bus.<\/p>\n

He ate the same lousy food you did at a rest stop.<\/p>\n

He waited with you for the room to be made up at the hotel after 300
\nmiles of road.<\/p>\n

He was the guy that taught you to make the job at any cost.<\/p>\n

He taught you responsibility.<\/p>\n

He was the guy that braved the elements in shirtsleeves<\/p>\n

He was the guy who was first to fix a flat tire in the rain.<\/p>\n

He was the guy in K.C. who held a busted water pipe with his hands, to
\nkeep clothes and music from getting ruined until help came.<\/p>\n

He was understanding to wives on the road.<\/p>\n

He was a dedicated musician, composer, arranger.<\/p>\n

He was a developer of talent.<\/p>\n

He wrote to show off the ability of all his men.<\/p>\n

He treated all equal.<\/p>\n

He remembered everyone’s name, fan and musician alike.<\/p>\n

He could go without sleep for days.<\/p>\n

He was loyal.<\/p>\n

He was dynamic.<\/p>\n

He was vital.<\/p>\n

He would lift his arms and make you want to play.<\/p>\n

He would laugh at himself.<\/p>\n

He could reach a whole audience with a smile.<\/p>\n

He could enter a room and you would know he was there without
\nlooking.<\/p>\n

He invented charisma.<\/p>\n

He was an innovator.<\/p>\n

He was a gambler with music.<\/p>\n

He was an explorer.<\/p>\n

He was a living monument to music.<\/p>\n

He was a great educator.<\/p>\n

He was a great leader.<\/p>\n

He was loved by all.<\/p>\n

He loved all.<\/p>\n

He was a friend to all.<\/p>\n

He was indestructible.<\/p>\n

Stan Kenton is dead. He will never be forgotten, and we will miss
\nhim.<\/p>\n

——Shelly Manne<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Manne’s drumming is an essential ingredient in Kenton’s hit record “Viva Prado,” recorded in September of 1950. The composition and arrangement are by Shorty Rogers. Soloists are Milt Bernhart, trombone; Bud Shank, alto saxophone; and Maynard Ferguson, trumpet. <\/p>\n

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