Gene Roland

Gene Roland (September 15, 1921 – August 11, 1982) was an American jazz musician, composer, and arranger who contributed richly to American jazz, especially through his work with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Born in Dallas, Texas, he played multiple instruments, including the trumpet, trombone, and saxophone, and collaborated with musicians including Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. Roland was pivotal in defining the unique 'Four Brothers' sound that influenced big band jazz. Throughout his career, he contributed groundbreaking arrangements and compositions for many major bands, performing globally and working with Denmark's Radiohus Orchestra.

Birth and Death Data: Born Dallas (city in the state of Texas, United States), Died August 11, 1982 (New York City (most populous city in the United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1947 - 1963

Roles Represented in DAHR: arranger, leader, songwriter

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-0402 10-in. 1/3/1947 Bill's mill Count Basie Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-1483 10-in. 8/6/1947 You're the dream of a lifetime William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal trio and jazz/dance quintet songwriter  
Victor D9VB-0046 10-in. 1/6/1949 Birdland Charlie Ventura Bop for the People Jazz/dance band, with vocal duet songwriter  
Decca 75642 1/3/1950 I get a kick out of you-2 Artie Shaw Orchestra arranger  
Decca 113530 5/23/1963 Soft winds Gene Roland ; Clark Terry arranger, leader  
Decca 113531 5/23/1963 'Round midnight Gene Roland ; Clark Terry arranger, leader  
Decca 113532 5/23/1963 Bottoms up Gene Roland ; Gene Roland arranger, leader  
Decca 113533 5/23/1963 A stranger in town Gene Roland arranger, leader  
Decca 113534 5/23/1963 The gold dust twins Gene Roland ; Clark Terry arranger, leader  
Decca 113535 5/24/1963 Suzie's theme Gene Roland ; Clark Terry arranger, leader  
Decca 113536 5/24/1963 Foofnik Gene Roland ; Clark Terry arranger, leader  
Decca 113537 5/24/1963 A smooth one Gene Roland ; Clark Terry arranger, leader  
Decca 113538 5/24/1963 The wrong blues Gene Roland ; Clark Terry arranger, leader  
Decca 113539 5/24/1963 The great lie Gene Roland ; Clark Terry arranger, leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Roland, Gene," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103942.

Roland, Gene. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103942.

"Roland, Gene." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103942

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