Sherry, Claude Eugene “Gene” (25th April 1920-21st August 2013)

He was a horn player and teacher who was very much a part of the L.A. session scene in the ‘60s and ‘70s, appearing on Frank Sinatra covers such as “That Old Black Magic” and “I’ve Heard That Song Before” on his 1961 album, Come Swing With Me. He also made the cut on Old Blue Eyes’ Trilogy and The Complete Capitol Singles Collection.

He started out with the ABC Radio Orchestra and moved on to become a member of the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra during its brief run in the mid-to-late ‘70s, he found himself working with Hollywood mainstays Henry Mancini and Lalo Schifrin: Gene blew the flugelhorn on The Mancini Touch, released on CD in 1996, and worked on Schifrin’s soundtrack of the television series Planet of the Apes, which debuted in 1974. A couple of bits from that program, “Ape Shuffle” and “Escape From Tomorrow”, appear on Schifrin’s Most Wanted 1968-1979. He also performed as a member of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra, the Pasadena Pops, The Los Angeles Civic Light Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Gene was credited with playing the French horn on Pete Rugolo’s Original Jazz Scores From 2 Classic TV Series: Thriller/Richard Diamond. He was also part of the ill-fated Beach Boys album, Smile, which was never released.

You have other opportunities to hear Claude on recordings as diverse as Brainstorm’s 1978 release, Journey to the Light, Frankie Laine’s Rawhide, and the Duane Eddy anthology, The RCA Years: 1962-1964.

In the field of musical education he taught music at Sun Valley’s Polytechnic High School for 22 years.

He died in August 2013 when he was 93 years old.

Sources:

Sherry, Claude Eugene “Gene” (25th April 1920-21st August 2013)

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