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Sonny Igoe

A fine big band drummer, Sonny Igoe was inspired by Gene Krupa, Kenny Clarke and Max Roach. He was originally self-taught and at age 16 won a Gene Krupa drumming contest. Igoe was in the Army during 1942-46 and then played with Tommy Reed (1946-47), Les Elagart (1947) and Ina Ray Hutton (1948). His most significant musical associations were with Benny Goodman (the bebop band of 1948-49), Woody Herman's Third Herd (1950-52) and Charlie Ventura (1953-55). Since then Igoe has spent most of his career as a studio musician and as a teacher. However he has remained active and, starting in the 1980's, he frequently co-led a big band with Dick Meldonian which recorded several albums for Progressive. Source: Scott Yanow

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Sonny Igoe Drums

Recording

Dick Meldonian and Sonny Igoe

Dick Meldonian and Sonny Igoe

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Saxophonist Dick Meldonian began his recording career in Charlie Barnet's band in 1950. He then moved on to Stan Kenton at the start of 1952. He remained with Kenton until the mid-1950s, when he left to record on 12-inch LPs with Pat Moran, Sam Most, Erroll Garner, Nat Pierce, Bill Russo, Marion Evans (he's on the Ted McNabb album) among others. Drummer Sonny Igoe began his recording career in 1948 with Buddy Stewart and then worked with Benny Goodman until ...

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Obituary

Sonny Igoe, 1923-2012

Sonny Igoe, 1923-2012

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Sonny Igoe, who played drums with a succession of prominent leaders, died this week at the age of 88. In 1939 when Igoe was 16, he won the first Gene Krupadrum competition. After four years in the United States Marine Corps in World War Two, he worked briefly in a band of former Marines, then began a career that included work with Les Elgart, Ina Ray Hutton, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Chuck Wayne and Charlie Ventura. Herman’s featuring Igoe on ...

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