Richard Boone, Singer/Trombone, 1930, Little Rock, AR
Richard sang in his church as a young child, and at age 16 he won a talent contest that allowed him to tour with Lucky Millinder's band for 1 month. From 1948 to 1953 he played in an army band. He then studied music at Philander Smith College. In 1958 he moved to Los Angeles where he performed as a singer and trombonist with local groups. He worked in studios and clubs with Gerald Wilson, Dolo Coker, Sonny Criss, and Dexter Gordon. From 1962 to 1966 he performed and toured with Della Reese. He spent the following 3 years with Count Basie where much of his performing was as a vocalist. From 1970 he spent a great deal of his time as a freelance musician in Europe where he toured extensively and lived in Copenhagen for an extended period. During the 1980s he was back in this country working with top-name groups.
John Carisi, Trumpet/Arranger, 1922, Hasbrook Hts., NJ
Mainly self-taught, John played trumpet with Babe Russin in New York in 1940 before working for Glenn Miller for several years. In the mid '40s he did arranging for a few big bands, including those of Ray McKinley, Charlie Barnet, and ClaudeThornhill. While he was studying with the composer Stefan Wolpe he wrote "Israel", a polyphonic piece based on the 12-bar blues progression. He composed it for Miles Davis who recorded it in 1949. It became part of Davis's "Birth of The Cool" album. An ingenious composer, Carisi continued to write fine works for various small groups, television, and radio. In 1969 John became a member of the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music and Queens College, CUNY.
