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138:), studio musician and educator. Raffell recorded on hundreds of records, movies, and T.V shows dating from the 1940s all the way through the 1990s. His career as a studio musician was long and stylistically diverse having started in the big band era and playing all the way up through rock n' roll and other modern pop era acts. He had a long time close professional association with arranger and conductor
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variety hour (1969–1970), among others. Though long-time friends with Riddle, Raffell had a falling out with the arranger during studio sessions in the 1960s due to both musicians' strong personalities. Raffell played in the sax section for the
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where both he and his brother took up musical instruments. He learned the clarinet and then moved onto the saxophone and flute, he learned to play trumpet and flugelhorn also. Early on his greatest influence on the saxophone was
398:) which is a complete switch from Young and Getz. Raffell's versatility as a soloist was impressive and wide ranging. He is probably most well known for his recordings for
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Orchestra was the one of the most positive for him of any of the touring bands from that era. Raffell eventually settled in the city of
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studios in the late 1960s; Raffell held the tenor sax chair for a number of years eventually taken over by reedman
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recordings. He would move to Los
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orchestra in 1940 where he would meet long-time friend and professional colleague, trombonist and arranger
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after production had moved to Los
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as one of the main woodwind and jazz artists to study with. Students who studied with him include
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Throughout
Raffell's music career he kept a private music studio at his home in
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134:; Apr 26, 1919 – Mar 24, 2003) was an American saxophonist, woodwind doubler (
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Raffell moved away from touring big bands and started to work as both a
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More complete list of discography for Don
Raffell at Allmusic guide
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As a jazz saxophonist
Raffell's natural style was patterned after
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Don
Raffell on far right in the Charlie Spivak sax section, 1941
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show this side of his playing. Raffell is also heard on early
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Orchestra with whom he recorded on several of the bands famous
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and is in the reed/saxophone section on many recordings for
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Presenting Milton Delugg and "the
Tonight Show" Big Band
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Don
Raffell was born and raised in a musical family in
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As You
Remember Them: Great Instrumentals: Volume 1-8
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also lead him to work on TV shows such as the 1960s
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937:September in the Rain: The Life of Nelson Riddle
913:"Big Band Library: Charlie Spivak: "Stardreams""
864:1990 Noni Bernardi Big Band - Video (NTSC Video)
785:The Swing Era: Curtain Call: The Sounds Of Swing
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317:among many others. His close association with
610:Louis Armstrong with the Sonny Burke Orchestra
569:What Does It Take/Lazy Day/Baby Doll/Lady Bug
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171:Raffell got his first start with the
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595:Four Platters and One Lovely Dish
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725:1965/(2000) Un-issued material
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694:, Gerald Wilson (World Pacific)
430:nominated, winning recordings.
237:near the studio music scene of
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1109:Jazz baritone saxophonists
1094:American male saxophonists
1089:American jazz saxophonists
476:1940 - 1942 All releases,
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422:throughout the 1960s and
273:on numerous sessions for
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83:Sherman Oaks, California
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811:I Get a Kick Out of You
668:with Vic Schoen (Decca)
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1099:Jazz alto saxophonists
917:www.bigbandlibrary.com
871:, Bill Tole (Courtney)
835:, Bill Tole (Courtney)
674:You Better Believe It!
402:where he impersonates
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38:Background information
822:Patty Weaver Sings...
265:in the late 1950s on
132:Donald Howard Raffell
48:Donald Howard Raffell
1002:"Levinson" Page 220.
993:"Levinson" Page 136.
564:(Musicraft)- singles
267:The Steve Allen Show
964:"Levinson" Page 34.
955:"Levinson" Page 58.
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466:Partial discography
167:Professional career
118:Saxophone, clarinet
1084:Woodwind musicians
626:A Swingin' Affair!
327:TV series and the
235:Los Angeles County
1114:Jazz clarinetists
975:Sinatra: The Life
869:Big Band Memories
844:Singers Unlimited
789:Time-Life Records
424:Singers Unlimited
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448:David Binney
440:Sherman Oaks
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388:The Platters
384:rock n' roll
364:Lester Young
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255:reed doubler
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207:Johnny Burke
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78:(2003-03-24)
1124:2003 deaths
1079:1919 births
815:Anita O'Day
800:Bing Crosby
716:Harry Betts
603:Bear Family
577:Sonny Burke
571:(singles),
547:Sonny Burke
544:Mambo Jambo
533:Sonny Burke
460:Jack Cooper
444:Los Angeles
434:As educator
392:Earl Bostic
376:Anita O'Day
352:Ernie Watts
315:Keely Smith
291:Dean Martin
219:Ray Conniff
203:Sonny Burke
194:Pin Up Girl
128:Don Raffell
20:Don Raffell
1073:Categories
922:2023-08-21
876:References
859:Storyville
817:(Evidence)
562:Hal Mooney
539:)- singles
503:Artie Shaw
488:Ray Coniff
471:As sideman
181:Artie Shaw
146:Early life
107:Occupation
59:1919-04-26
44:Birth name
1039:Biography
848:Universal
778:Time-Life
767:Time-Life
756:Time-Life
745:Time-Life
662:Al Jolson
590:(Norgran)
558:Mel Torme
529:Mel Torme
416:Mel Torme
404:Stan Getz
396:saxophone
368:Stan Getz
303:Peggy Lee
263:Les Brown
243:Hollywood
223:Mel Torme
161:Stan Getz
804:Infinity
729:(Mosaic)
664:and the
524:(Atomic)
507:Bluebird
110:Musician
97:big band
1025:Portals
828:(RE/SE)
635:Capitol
537:Capitol
382:, pop,
380:R&B
348:Burbank
239:Burbank
981:
943:
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492:Atomic
458:, and
428:Grammy
324:Batman
221:, and
191:movie
130:(born
89:Genres
68:, U.S.
1051:music
867:1998
853:1984
838:1980
831:1977
820:1976
809:1975
794:1975
783:1973
772:1972
761:1972
750:1971
739:1971
736:(RCA)
732:1967
710:1962
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688:1962
671:1961
657:1957
640:1957
623:1956
618:Decca
608:1955
593:1954
586:1953
581:Decca
575:with
567:1951
560:with
556:1951
551:Decca
542:1951
531:with
527:1949
516:1946
497:1946
482:1946
358:Style
281:with
227:Burke
101:swing
1063:jazz
979:ISBN
941:ISBN
897:ISBN
418:and
406:and
374:and
366:and
313:and
261:and
241:and
93:Jazz
73:Died
53:Born
652:MCA
511:RCA
346:'s
344:NBC
329:ABC
233:in
185:RCA
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