C. Griffin

Gordon Claude "Chris" Griffin (October 31, 1915 – June 18, 2005) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Griffin was born in Binghamton, New York, United States, but moved to White Plains when he was ten; he began playing trumpet at age twelve, and played in dance bands as a teenager. He worked with Charlie Barnet, Rudy Vallee, Miff Mole, Mildred Bailey, Teddy Wilson, and Joe Haymes in the mid-1930s, and did work as a studio musician for CBS radio broadcasting. In 1936 he joined Benny Goodman's big band, remaining with him until 1939. He appeared in several movies as a member of Goodman's ensemble, such as The Big Broadcast of 1937 and Hollywood Hotel, and was the last surviving member of Goodman's band to perform in the first major jazz event at Carnegie Hall which was recorded and later released as The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert. In 1940 he played with Jimmy Dorsey and occasionally returned to Goodman's band in the 1940s and 1950s, but primarily worked on staff at CBS from the late 1930s onward. He played trumpet for radio television soundtracks into the 1980s, including for The Ed Sullivan Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, Lucky Strike Hit Parade, The Philip Morris Playhouse, and Camel Caravan.

Griffin and Pee Wee Erwin co-founded a trumpet education school which operated from 1966 to 1970, and toured with Warren Covington in Europe in 1974. He worked with Tex Beneke, Bud Freeman, and Warren Vaché Sr. later in his career. In the 1980s he led an ensemble of his own which included sidemen such as Marty Napoleon, Sonny Igoe, Jane Jarvis, and Major Holley.

Griffin was married to vocalist Helen O'Brien for 60 years until her death in 2000. The couple had four sons, one of whom also died in 2000, and two daughters. He died aged 89 in 2005 of melanoma.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 31, 1915 (Binghamton), Died June 18, 2005 (Danbury)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet

Notes: Birth name: Gordon Griffin.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 120 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 83644 11/14/1952 Lake Placid Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83645 11/14/1952 Uncle Jim Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83646 11/14/1952 Waltzing on a cloud Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83647 11/15/1952 In Veradero-1 Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83648 11/15/1952 Falling in love all over again Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83649 11/15/1952 It's a happy holiday Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 83650 11/15/1952 Two for a nickel, three for a dime Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 84736 6/22/1953 Memphis blues Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 84737 6/22/1953 Ol' shanks mare Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 84738 6/22/1953 Rhythm-a-tic Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 84739 6/22/1953 Long gone Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 84817 7/6/1953 It could happen to you Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 84818 7/6/1953 They can't take that away from me Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 84819 7/6/1953 All the things you are Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 84820 7/6/1953 September song Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 85447 11/7/1953 Whamboogie George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 85448 11/7/1953 Creole George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 85449 11/7/1953 The knocked out choo choo George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 85450 11/7/1953 The rompin' stamper George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 86481 6/29/1954 Soft touch George Williams Orchestra ; Bart Varsalona instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 86482 6/29/1954 Block buster George Williams Orchestra ; Bart Varsalona instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 86483 6/29/1954 You can't stop love George Williams Orchestra ; Bart Varsalona instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 86484 6/29/1954 Saturday night function George Williams Orchestra ; Bart Varsalona instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 86982 10/29/1954 [Unknown title(s)] George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 86983 10/29/1954 Song from Desiree (We meet again) George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 76-100 of 120 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Griffin, C.," accessed April 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112159.

Griffin, C.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112159.

"Griffin, C.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112159

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