Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco (February 17, 1923 – December 24, 2014) was an American jazz clarinetist, universally recognized as the premier clarinetist of the bebop era. While the clarinet was the defining instrument of the swing era, DeFranco was virtually alone in successfully adapting the instrument to the complex harmonic structures and rapid tempos of bebop.
During his early career, DeFranco played with big band leaders such as Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, and Gene Krupa before joining small groups alongside bebop innovators like Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie. His technical mastery and innovative phrasing earned him unprecedented critical acclaim, winning twenty DownBeat magazine awards, nine Metronome awards, and sixteen Playboy All-Star awards.
Later in his career, DeFranco helped sustain the big band tradition, most notably serving as the musical director of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1966 to 1974. He remained an active performer and recording artist into his eighties and was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2006 for his lifelong contributions to the genre.
Born in Camden, New Jersey, United States, DeFranco was raised in South Philadelphia. He was playing the clarinet by the time he was nine years old and within five years had won a national Tommy Dorsey swing contest.
He began his professional career just as swing music and big bands—many of which were led by clarinetists like Artie Shaw, and Benny Goodman—were in decline. While most jazz clarinet players did not adapt to this change, DeFranco successfully continued to play clarinet exclusively, and was one of the few bebop clarinetists.
In 1950, DeFranco spent a year with Count Basie's septet. He then led a small combo in the early 1950s which included pianist Sonny Clark and guitarist Tal Farlow. In this period, DeFranco recorded for MGM, Norgran and Verve; the latter two labels were owned by Norman Granz.
During the years 1960-64, DeFranco released four innovative quartet albums, as co-leader with the accordionist Tommy Gumina.
DeFranco won twenty awards from DownBeat magazine, nine awards from Metronome, and sixteen Playboy All-Stars awards.
In 2006, DeFranco was named an NEA Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest official honor the United States bestows on jazz musicians. The award recognized his extensive career and his pivotal role in transitioning the clarinet from the swing era into the bebop movement.
Additionally, his contributions to jazz education were honored by the University of Montana, which named its annual jazz event the Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival.
Discography
The Glenn Miller Orchestra Under the Direction of Buddy DeFranco
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