Mundell Lowe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mundell Lowe
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Lowe in 2000
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Mundell Lowe |
| Born | April 21, 1922 Shady Grove, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | December 2, 2017 (aged 95) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, conductor |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1946–2017 |
| Labels | RCA Victor, Riverside, RCA Camden, Fresh Sound, Nagel-Heyer |
James Mundell Lowe (born April 21, 1922 – died December 2, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist. He was famous for his work in radio, television, and movies. He also played music for many other artists as a session musician. In the 1970s, he created music for films and TV shows. These included the Billy Jack movie soundtrack and music for Starsky and Hutch. Later, in the 1990s, he played with André Previn's Trio.
Contents
Early Life and Learning Music
Mundell Lowe grew up on a farm in Shady Grove, Smith County, Mississippi. His father was a Baptist minister.
He started playing the guitar when he was only eight years old. His father and sister were his first teachers.
Mundell Lowe's Music Career
When Mundell was thirteen, he started leaving home to play guitar in different bands. Sometimes, his father would find him and bring him back home. His father would warn him about the dangers of certain habits.
At sixteen, Lowe worked in Nashville on the famous Grand Ole Opry radio show. Before joining the military for World War II, he was part of the Jan Savitt orchestra.
Military Service and Early Bands
During his basic training, he became friends with John Hammond. Hammond was a famous music producer. They organized weekend jam sessions together. Mundell also played in an Army dance band while serving in Guadalcanal.
After leaving the military, he called Hammond for work. Hammond sent him to play with Ray McKinley's big band. Mundell spent two years playing with McKinley in New York City. Later, he joined the Benny Goodman orchestra. For the next few years, he played at clubs like Café Society in New York.
Working in TV and Film
In 1950, NBC hired him as a staff musician. He and Ed Shaughnessy were part of the Today Show band for over ten years. Mundell even acted in an episode of the Armstrong Circle Theatre TV show. This show featured actor Walter Matthau and live music by Doc Severinsen.
On weekends, Mundell played jazz music. Sometimes, NBC would let him take six months off to play jazz. He played with many jazz legends. These included Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus, and Charlie Parker. He also wrote and arranged music for NBC. He helped introduce pianist Bill Evans to a record producer. This led to Bill Evans's first recordings as a band leader.
In 1965, Mundell moved to Los Angeles. He continued working for NBC as a guitarist, composer, and arranger. He wrote music for popular TV shows like Hawaii Five-O, Starsky & Hutch, and The Wild Wild West. He also composed music for movies. Some of these films were Satan in High Heels (1962) and Billy Jack (1971).
Later Career and Collaborations
Mundell Lowe recorded music with famous singers like Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan. In the 1980s, he worked with André Previn and Tete Montoliu. He also played with the group Great Guitars.
He shared his knowledge by teaching music. He taught at the Guitar Institute of Technology and the Grove School of Music. For several years, he was the music director for the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Throughout his career, he worked with many other great musicians. These included Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ben Webster. In his later years, he often played with flutist Holly Hoffman. When he was 93 years old, he released an album called Poor Butterfly.
Mundell Lowe was married to singer Betty Bennett for 42 years. She was his third wife. In his final years, they lived in San Diego. He passed away on December 2, 2017, at the age of 95.
Discography (Selected)
Mundell Lowe released many albums as a band leader. He also played on countless recordings for other artists.
As leader
- The Mundell Lowe Quartet (Riverside, 1955)
- Guitar Moods (Riverside, 1956)
- Porgy & Bess (RCA Camden, 1959)
- TV Action Jazz! (RCA Camden, 1959)
See also
In Spanish: Mundell Lowe para niños
