Biography
Born on 20 October 1913 in Shelby, North Carolina, John McClanian Best Jnr. spent his early life in the United States and died on 19 September 2003 in La Jolla, California. Although piano served as his initial instrument, he turned to trumpet before reaching his teenage years. His rapid mastery of the horn led him into dance orchestras and, soon afterward, into the prominent big-band ensembles of the swing period. Engagements followed with Les Brown, Charlie Barnet and Artie Shaw, together with an extended tenure alongside Glenn Miller. While serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he performed in both Shaw’s and Sam Donahue’s service ensembles. Once hostilities ended he appeared with Benny Goodman and rejoined Bob Crosby, an association that had already begun briefly in the early 1940s. From the late 1940s through the 1950s he balanced studio-orchestra duties with tours and periodic revivals featuring Crosby, Billy May and, later, Ray Conniff. The same pattern of activity persisted into the 1980s, encompassing further work with Crosby at Disneyland in 1980, a Miller-band reunion in 1984 and another Crosby project in 1985. Louis Armstrong’s example shaped Best’s approach, as it did for many trumpeters of his era. Over time he became a player of three distinct strengths, contributing precise section playing, authoritative and motivational lead trumpet and inventive, forceful solos. Despite these accomplishments, both his standing among peers and the body of recordings he left behind remained smaller than his abilities warranted.
Singles