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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 ZDONAHUE, Sam(b 8 March '18, Detroit MI; d 22 March '74, Reno NV) Tenor sax, arranger, bandleader. Led his own band late '30s; played for Gene Krupa, Harry James, Benny Goodman; own band again early '40s (hit on Bluebird '41: 'Do You Care?' with vocal by Irene Day); took over Artie Shaw's US Navy band when Shaw was discharged, made good V-discs with it (two volumes now on Hep CDs: Convoy and LST Party by Sam Donahue and the Navy Band). Own band late '40s; worked for Tommy Dorsey; own band again: hits '46--8 incl. instrumentals 'My Melancholy Baby', 'Robbins Nest', 'Saxa-Boogie'; also vocals with Mynell Allen, Shirley Lloyd; with Bill Lockwood: 'Put That Kiss Back Where You Found It', 'I Never Knew'. He took over the Billy May band and led it for Ray Anthony's organization; led his own band again, worked for Stan Kenton, then took over the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra five years after Dorsey died: it later became the the Frank Sinatra Jr Show. He was still leading the band in Reno when stricken with cancer. His bands and his booting tenor sax were always popular; his own LPs incl. Young Moderns In Love and Sam Donahue on Capitol '50s; later Sam Donahue And The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra on RCA, recorded live at a hotel. |