Si Zentner
classic jazz and space-age sounds.
Si Zentner
Bucking the odds, Si Zentner formed his first big band in the late fifties. Though most every one else had given up on the band business, he wanted to prove that it could still be viable. And prove it he did, soon scoring a smash hit and winning a Grammy.In New York City, Zentner began learning the violin at age four, later switching to the trombone. Winning a college scholarship for music, he planned to pursue a classical career, but after working a session with Andre Kostelanetz, he decided to try his hand at commercial music. He landed his first big job with Van Alexander in 1938, where he remained until joining Les Brown in 1940. He later worked with Abe Lyman and Jimmy Dorsey before settling down in Los Angeles during the war years, where he was on call for all the major studios in Hollywood and worked at MGM as a staff musician from 1949 to 1955. In 1957, he decided to organize his own big band. It played its first date at the Hollywood Palladium in January 1959. The show went so well that the band was brought back for several repeat performances. Earning some favorable reviews in Downbeat magazine, Zentner's future soon seemed bright. In 1959, he signed with Liberty Records and, in 1960, scored a huge hit with "Up a Lazy River," winning a Grammy for Best Instrumental. He remained popular throughout the early and mid-sixties, continuing to release new material up until 1968. Besides, Liberty, he also recorded for RCA Victor and Bel Canto Records, and in 1962 collaborated with lounge artist Martin Denney. In 1965, Zentner took his orchestra into the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, where they remained until 1968, when Zentner became musical director for the ''Folies Bergere,'' one of Vegas' longest-running floor shows. He remained with the show until the mid-seventies then organized a new orchestra and went back on the road. Si Zentner passed away on January 31, 2000 from complications related to leukemia.
The band leader planned to donate all his charts, trombones, musical memorabilia and even his Grammy award to the university's Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center, which is expected to open next fall.
In return for pledging the memorabilia, Zentner was awarded an honorary doctorate of human letters in May 1994.
Zentner is survived by a son, Howard Zentner of Sandpoint, Idaho, and a daughter, Linda Lawrence of Lancaster, Calif.
Born:
June 17, 1917
Santiago, Cuba
Died:
January 31, 2000
Las Vegas, NV
Marriages/Children:
Frances
Howard Zentner
Linda Zentner (Lawrence)
Theme Song:
Up a Lazy River
Recordings:
Sleepy Lagoon (with Russ Garcia), Liberty LRP 3055
A Thinking Man's Band, Liberty LST 7133
Suddenly It's Swing, Liberty LST 7139
The Singin' Eye, Liberty LST 7166
Big Band Plays the Big Hits, Liberty LST 7197
Up a Lazy River, Liberty LST 7216
The Stripper and Other Big Band Hits, Liberty LST 7247
Desafinado, Liberty LST 7273
Waltz in Jazz Time, Liberty LST 7284
Rhythm Plus Blues, Liberty LST 7290
More, Liberty LST 7326
Si Zentner Plays Big Band Hits, Liberty LST 7350
From Russia with Love, Libert LST 7353
Si Zentner in Full Swing, Liberty LST 7397
The Best of, Liberty LST 7427
The Best of, Vol. 2, Liberty LST 7457
Swingin' Country, Liberty LST 7481
A Perfect Blend (with the Johnny Mann Singers),
Liberty LST 7483
Warning Shot (soundtrack), Liberty LST 7498
Right Here! Right Now! The Big Mod Sound of, Liberty LST 7531
(with Johnny Mann Singers) Great Band With Great
Voices, Liberty LSS-14009
(with Johnny Mann Singers) Great Band With Great
Voices Swing The Great Themes Of The Big Bands,
Liberty LSS-14017
My Cup of Tea, RCA Victor LSP-2992
It's Nice to Go Travelling, RCA Victor LSP-3388
Put Your Head on My Shoulder, RCA Victor LSP-3484
Big Band Brilliance, Sunset 5110
