Shorty Sherock Trumpet – Phantom Dancer

Sherock played cornet from childhood, later switched to trumpet. Studied at the Illinois Military Academy.

He was a sideman with Ben Pollack’s orchestra in 1936 until he was outshone by another trumpet player, the legendary Harry James.

Shorty played in the bands of Jimmy Dorsey (1937-1939), Bob Crosby (1939-1940) and Gene Krupa (1940-1941).

He briefly led his own orchestra, 1945-1946, and 1948 which you’ll hear on The Phantom Dancer today.

He was a featured soloist in Los Angeles in 1944 at the first Jazz at the Philharmonic concert. The concert included Nat King Cole, Illinois Jacquet, J. J. Johnson, Jack McVea, and Les Paul.

Shorty Sherock appeared on TV on the The Jack Benny Program (1950), Shorty Sherock and His Orchestra (1947), Jazz Concert (1949), and Stars of Jazz (1958).

He recorded some shorts with his orchestra including Columbia’s “Thrills of Music”(1947) where Shorty Sherock and his Orchestra provide music for the vocals of Frances Wayne and the tap-dancing of Danny Daniels. Numbers seen (and heard) are: “I’ll Remember April”, “You Were Meant For Me” and “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

In 1955, he recorded three tracks for Freddie Slack’s Boogie Woogie on the 88 album.

As a member of the Nelson Riddle Orchestra he appeared on:
– Dean Martin’s album This Time I’m Swingin’!,
– Frank Sinatra’s album Sinatra Sings Days of Wine and Roses,
– Moon River and Other Academy Award Winners,
– Ella Fitzgerald’s albums Get Happy!, Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson, Ella Swings Gently with Nelson, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook, and Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook.

He also recorded with Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra in 1959.

Shorty worked as a film studio musician in Los Angeles in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.

Sherock played trumpet on the soundtracks of the movies Godfather 2, and Robin and the 7 Hoods.