Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

February 6, 1924 in Pittsburgh, PA

 

Sammy Nestico is a renowned American composer and arranger of classical music. He was born on February 6, 1924, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nestico grew up in a musical family, and his father was a professional musician who played the trumpet. Nestico started playing the piano at the age of four and later learned to play the trumpet and trombone. Nestico's musical career began in the 1940s when he joined the United States Army as a musician. He played the trombone in the Army band and later became an arranger for the band. After his service in the Army, Nestico moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a freelance arranger for various recording studios and television networks. In the 1950s, Nestico became a staff arranger for the Count Basie Orchestra. He arranged many of the band's most famous songs, including "Li'l Darlin'," "Splanky," and "The Kid from Red Bank." Nestico's arrangements for the Count Basie Orchestra were known for their swing and big band sound, and they helped to define the sound of the band during the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1960s, Nestico began to focus on composing his own music. He wrote many pieces for big band, including "Switch In Time," "Hay Burner," and "Wind Machine." Nestico's compositions were known for their complex harmonies and intricate arrangements. His music was often performed by the Count Basie Orchestra and other big bands of the time. Nestico's music has been featured in many films and television shows over the years. He wrote the theme music for the television show "The Naked City" and arranged music for the films "The Color Purple" and "The Godfather Part III." Nestico's music has also been used in commercials and other advertising campaigns. In addition to his work as a composer and arranger, Nestico has also been a music educator. He has taught at many universities and music schools, including the University of Georgia and the University of Miami. Nestico has also written several books on music theory and arranging. Throughout his career, Nestico has received many awards and honors for his contributions to music. He has won several Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Jazz Wall of Fame. Nestico's music continues to be performed and recorded by big bands and orchestras around the world.

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