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Shorty Rogers

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Composer

The Resume

    (April 14, 1924-November 7, 1994)
    Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts
    Born Milton Rajonsky
    Trumpet / flugelhorn player in cool jazz genre
    Composed the background score for The Partridge Family, Looney Tunes’ ‘Three Little Bops’ and UPA’s ‘Hotsy Footsy’ (with Mr. Magoo)
    Sideman for Elmer Bernstein, Perez Prado, et al
    CDs include ‘Shorty Rogers and His Giants,’ ‘Cool and Crazy,’ ‘The Swinging Mr. Rogers,’ ‘Wherever the Five Winds Blow,’ ‘Portrait of Shorty,’ ‘The Fourth Dimension in Sound,’ and ‘Yesterday, Today, and Forever’
    Died of melanoma in Van Nuys, California, at age 70
    1989 Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame inductee

Why he might be annoying:

    How he earned his nickname (in high school) was never clearly established.
    He had a really sinister beard and moustache combination.
    A close friend who was also a fellow musician cited more than eight years of internal bleeding as a recurring problem en route to his death.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He regarded Count Basie as a core inspiration.
    He made an appearance on a Peter Gunn episode (1958), playing a section of ‘How High the Moon’ (sung by Lola Albright).
    He would become better known for being an arranger – for no fewer than 20 different acts – than a straight musician.
    His backing band (‘and His Giants’) ranged from five to nine members and ultimately to a big band.

Credit: Cool It All Right?


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying