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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMcINTYRE, Hal(b Harold McIntyre, 14 November 1914, Cromwell CT; d 5 May 1959, Los Angeles CA) Alto sax, clarinet, arranger, bandleader. Had band in Connecticut '35-6; joined Glenn Miller '37, soon played lead alto. Miller helped him form his own band '41 with an Ellington flavour, arrangements often written by tenorist Dave Matthews; had good singers including Helen Ward (ex-Benny Goodman); played top venues including President Roosevelt's birthday party at the Statler Hotel in Washington DC early '45. That year the band had a no. 3 hit 'Sentimental Journey' on Victor, and went on a USO tour: they had to use stand-in musicians but enhanced their popularity in the end. He recorded for other labels including MGM; carried on well into '50s when other bands had quit; he planned a comeback but died in a fire caused by a cigarette. |