Alfred Gallodoro
Encyclopedia
Alfred J. Gallodoro, was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, who performed from the 1920s up until his death. He is notable for having played lead alto sax with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra
and bass clarinet for 12 years with the NBC Symphony Orchestra
under Arturo Toscanini
. Bandleader Jimmy Dorsey
praised him as "the best sax player who ever lived."
steelworker, but moved with his family to Birmingham, Alabama
when he was five years old. About the same time his father began teaching him clarinet on the "Albert Method". Devoting himself to practice, Gallodoro earned a spot with Romeo and His Juliets and made his first stage appearance at Birmingham's Lyric Theatre in 1926. The next summer he toured the Gulf Coast
with Birmingham banjo player George Evans and decided to settle in New Orleans, Louisiana
, where his family joined him.
After six years of playing nightclubs, speakeasies and vaudeville shows at the Orpheum Theater
, Gallodoro moved to New York City
and became a member of Isham Jones
' big band. In 1936 he was hired to play lead alto saxophone in Paul Whiteman
's orchestra, among the most popular performing groups of the era. After that group disbanded in 1940 he was hired to play bass clarinet in the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini
. Among his credits is the famed opening clarinet glissando from the 1945 Warner Brothers film "Rhapsody in Blue
". He claimed to have performed that particular piece over 10,000 times in his career, more than any other person.
tailored his "Gallodoro’s Serenade for Saxophone and Piano" for him in 1958. He performed on screen as a street musician in the 1974 film The Godfather, Part II.
and began working as an instructor at Hartwick College
. His wife, Mary died in Oneonta in 1985. He continued to perform and record, often with pianist, manager and friend JoAnn Chmielowski. He issued several CDs of new and old recordings on his own Golden Rooster Records with the help of his producer and grandson, Kevin Wood. His final performance was on September 20, 2008 at the Corning Jazz and Harvest Festival in Corning, New York
.
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
and bass clarinet for 12 years with the NBC Symphony Orchestra
NBC Symphony Orchestra
The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra established by David Sarnoff of the National Broadcasting Company especially for conductor Arturo Toscanini...
under Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
. Bandleader Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
praised him as "the best sax player who ever lived."
Early Years
Gallodoro was born to a ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
steelworker, but moved with his family to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
when he was five years old. About the same time his father began teaching him clarinet on the "Albert Method". Devoting himself to practice, Gallodoro earned a spot with Romeo and His Juliets and made his first stage appearance at Birmingham's Lyric Theatre in 1926. The next summer he toured the Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
with Birmingham banjo player George Evans and decided to settle in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where his family joined him.
After six years of playing nightclubs, speakeasies and vaudeville shows at the Orpheum Theater
Orpheum Theater (New Orleans)
The Orpheum Theater is a theater in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.Also known as RKO Orpheum, it was esigned by G. Albert Lansburgh, built in 1918, and opened for vaudeville in 1921. The Beaux Arts style building has 1800 seats. Soon after opening it became a movie house...
, Gallodoro moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and became a member of Isham Jones
Isham Jones
Isham Jones was a United States bandleader, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter.-Career:Jones was born in Coalton, Ohio, to a musical and mining family, and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, where he started his first band...
' big band. In 1936 he was hired to play lead alto saxophone in Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
's orchestra, among the most popular performing groups of the era. After that group disbanded in 1940 he was hired to play bass clarinet in the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
. Among his credits is the famed opening clarinet glissando from the 1945 Warner Brothers film "Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue (film)
Rhapsody in Blue is a 1945 fictionalized screen biography of the American composer and musician George Gershwin . Starring Robert Alda as Gershwin, the film features a few of Gershwin's acquaintances playing themselves...
". He claimed to have performed that particular piece over 10,000 times in his career, more than any other person.
Radio and Television
In 1947 Gallodoro's former bandleader invited him to join him as a live performer on New York's WJZ radio station. Gallodoro contributed countless saxophone solos to that station's programs over two decades and continued to do live radio work throughout his life. Known for effortlessly transitioning from classical to jazz idioms and for a clean and virtuosic style, Gallodoro was much in demand as a session recording artist. Composer Ferde GroféFerde Grofé
Ferde Grofé was a prominent American composer, arranger and pianist. During the 1920s and 1930s, he went by the name Ferdie Grofé.-Early life:...
tailored his "Gallodoro’s Serenade for Saxophone and Piano" for him in 1958. He performed on screen as a street musician in the 1974 film The Godfather, Part II.
Teaching career
In 1981 Gallodoro moved to Oneonta, New YorkOneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
and began working as an instructor at Hartwick College
Hartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
. His wife, Mary died in Oneonta in 1985. He continued to perform and record, often with pianist, manager and friend JoAnn Chmielowski. He issued several CDs of new and old recordings on his own Golden Rooster Records with the help of his producer and grandson, Kevin Wood. His final performance was on September 20, 2008 at the Corning Jazz and Harvest Festival in Corning, New York
Corning (city), New York
Corning is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States, on the Chemung River. The population was 10,842 at the 2000 census. It is named for Erastus Corning, an Albany financier and railroad executive who was an investor in the company that developed the community.- Overview :The city of...
.
Discography
- The Many Sides of Al Gallodoro (1998) Golden Rooster Records
- Out of Nowhere (1999) Basta Records
- Caffe Lena Live (2003) Golden Rooster Records
- Sarasota Saxes (2003) Golden Rooster Records
- Daybreak - Lyrical Jazz (2006) Golden Rooster Records/Chmusic Productions
- Infinite Gallodoro. (2006). Golden Rooster Records/Chmusic Productions
- Saxophone Contrasts, For your listening pleasure (2006) Golden Rooster Records/Chmusic Productions
- A Moment in Time, Birmingham Live, 1969" (2008) Golden Rooster Records/Chmusic Productions
- Gershwin By Grofe Steven Richman, Harmonie Ensemble/New York, Al Gallodoro, Lincoln Mayorga (2010) Harmonia Mundi
- Gallodoro Al Gallodoro, unidentified assisting artists (ca. 1960) Merri 5901 (LP)
- Saxophone Contrasts Al Gallodoro and his orchestra (1951) Columbia CL 6188 (LP)