Biography
Born on 7 October 1925 in New York City and deceased on 19 October 1992 in Los Angeles, Stoller began playing drums in childhood. While still a teenager he worked with the orchestras of Raymond Scott, Teddy Powell, Benny Goodman and Charlie Spivak. In 1945 he took over Buddy Rich’s chair in the Tommy Dorsey band, carrying forward much of Rich’s drive and a share of his volatile personality. Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s he appeared with Georgie Auld, Harry James, Billy May, Charlie Barnet, Claude Thornhill and Bob Crosby. During those same years he was frequently hired by Norman Granz for studio sessions that found him accompanying Erroll Garner, Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Carter, the last on Additions To Further Definitions. Whether providing understated support for vocalists and small groups or supplying forceful momentum behind a large ensemble, Stoller ranked among the finest drummers of the late swing period, although extensive later work in film and television studios sometimes caused him to be overlooked.