Toots Mondello
Nunzio (Toots) Mondello (August 14, 1911 in Boston, Massachusetts – November 15, 1992 in New York City, New York) was an American swing jazz alto saxophonist. Mondello played with Mal Hallett from 1927 to 1933, where he also simultaneously performed saxophone and trombone, and with Irving Aaronson's Commanders, Joe Haymes, and Buddy Rogers. In 1934–35 he was a member of the Benny Goodman Orchestra; he returned to play with Goodman in 1939–40. In the interim he worked with Haymes, Ray Noble, and Phil Harris. He did extensive work as a studio sideman, with Chick Bullock, Bunny Berigan, Miff Mole, Claude Thornhill, Larry Clinton, Teddy Wilson, Louis Armstrong (1938–39), Lionel Hampton, and the Metronome All–Stars. He recorded as a leader between 1937 and 1939, doing two sessions with a big band, one with a nonet, and one with a trio. Mondello served in the military during World War II. He continued doing session work and remained active into the 1970s. He and Goodman reunited to record in 1967. He was also a flutist. For many years he studied with Harold Bennett and compiled a book of Bennett's finger exercises. He studied composition with Paul Creston for thirteen years, and the two remained lifelong friends. |
Birth and Death Data: Born August 14, 1911 (Boston), Died November 15, 1992 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1957
Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, saxophone, clarinet, vocalist, composer
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 51-75 of 110 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | D9VB-2829 | 10-in. | 12/29/1949 | Some enchanted evening | Harry Prime ; Ralph Flanagan Orchestra | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | D9VB-2857 | 10-in. | 12/29/1949 | Oh, what a beautiful mornin' | Harry Prime ; Ralph Flanagan Orchestra | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | D9VB-2858 | 10-in. | 12/29/1949 | What's the use of wond'rin' | Harry Prime ; Ralph Flanagan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | D9AB-2859 | 10-in. | 12/29/1949 | Leave it to love | Harry Prime ; Ralph Flanagan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | D9AB-2860 | 10-in. | 12/29/1949 | Farewell, Amanda | Harry Prime ; Ralph Flanagan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Columbia | W144024 | 10-in. | 4/12/1927 | Ya gonna be home to-night? (Oh yeh? Then I'll be over) | Mal Hallett Orchestra ; Toots Mondello | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist | |
Decca | 73792 | 2/13/1947 | Deep song | Billie Holiday | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 73793 | 2/13/1947 | There is no greater love | Billie Holiday | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 73794 | 2/13/1947 | Easy living | Billie Holiday | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 73795 | 2/13/1947 | Solitude | Billie Holiday | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 74000 | 7/11/1947 | You're breakin' in a new heart | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 74013 | 7/22/1947 | Don't you think I oughta know? | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 74014 | 7/22/1947 | You're breakin' in a new heart | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 81328 | 8/1/1951 | The kissing bug boogie | Neal Hefti Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 81329 | 8/1/1951 | (I wouldn't be where I am) If you hadn't gone away | Neal Hefti Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 81330 | 8/1/1951 | Coral reef | Neal Hefti Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 81451 | 8/24/1951 | Shine on harvest moon | Jerry Gray Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 81452 | 8/24/1951 | Introduction to a waltz | Jerry Gray Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 81453 | 8/25/1951 | The dipsy doodle | Jerry Gray Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 81454 | 8/25/1951 | Flagwaver | Jerry Gray Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 82042 | 12/27/1951 | You're the only one I love | Neal Hefti Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 82043 | 12/27/1951 | Don't be that way | Neal Hefti Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 82605 | 4/3/1952 | Everytime | Neal Hefti Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 82606 | 4/3/1952 | Lonesome and blue | Neal Hefti Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 82607 | 4/3/1952 | Sure thing | Neal Hefti Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mondello, Toots," accessed December 2, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106360.
Mondello, Toots. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 2, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106360.
"Mondello, Toots." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 2 December 2023.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Mondello, Toots - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91084674
Wikidata: Toots Mondello - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2443100
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/207813
MusicBrainz: Toots Mondello - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5481f308-4918-429c-bd01-a632e3ae9abe
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