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 76-100 of 114 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
Decca 82608 4/3/1952 Why not? Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 84736 6/22/1953 Memphis blues Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 84737 6/22/1953 Ol' shanks mare Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 84738 6/22/1953 Rhythm-a-tic Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 84739 6/22/1953 Long gone Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 87917 5/9/1955 Jack hammer drill George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 87918 5/9/1955 Rocking the blues George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 87919 5/9/1955 Too much moon George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103804 12/3/1957 Li'l darlin' Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103805 12/3/1957 Cherry point Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103806 12/3/1957 The kid from Red Bank Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103807 12/3/1957 Oh! What a night for love Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103808 12/4/1957 Banana split Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103809 12/4/1957 Lollypop Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103810 12/4/1957 The wayno Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103811 12/4/1957 Chug-a-lug Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103812 12/5/1957 Sure thing Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103813 12/5/1957 Coral reef Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103814 12/5/1957 Why not? Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 103815 12/5/1957 Plymouth rock Steve Allen Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Signature SRC 189 10-in. 1945 22 steps from the corner Johnny Bothwell Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
(Results 76-100 of 114 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mondello, Toots," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106360.

Mondello, Toots. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106360.

"Mondello, Toots." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106360

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.