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Howard Rumsey

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Howard Rumsey was an American jazz double bassist, born on 7 November 1917 in Brawley, California, and died on 15 July 2015. In the 1950s he led the Lighthouse All-Stars. He began on piano, switched to drums and ended up on bass. He played with Vido Musso and Johnnie Davis, was a member of Stan Kenton's first band, left after an argument and played with Charlie Barnet and Barney Bigard.

Music and breakthrough

In 1949 he was looking for work and found the Lighthouse Club on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach. He convinced the owner John Levine to allow jazz and played his first night on 29 May 1949 with immediate success. The first Lighthouse All-Stars consisted of musicians from the Central Avenue scene, including Teddy Edwards, Sonny Criss and Hampton Hawes. The second line-up had Jimmy Giuffre, Shorty Rogers and Shelly Manne and got a contract with Les Koenig's Contemporary Records. In 1953 Rogers, Giuffre and Manne left, and the third line-up consisted of Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Rolf Ericson and Max Roach.

Influence

The Lighthouse All-Stars played every Sunday at the Lighthouse Cafe for almost the entire decade and were one of the most important institutions of modern West Coast jazz. In this way Rumsey gave a home to many Los Angeles musicians.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a recording by the Lighthouse All-Stars from the 1950s. Notice how relaxed the ensemble sounds and how the horns give each other room.

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists