Al Gallodoro

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Alfred J. Gallodoro (born Fortunato Gallodoro June 20, 1913 in Chicago, Illinois - died October 4, 2008 in Oneonta, New York) was a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Bandleader Jimmy Dorsey called him "the best sax player who ever lived."

Gallodoro's was born to a Chicago steelworker. His family moved to Ensley in 1918 and his father began teaching him clarinet on the "Albert Method" the same year. He practiced diligently and, by 1926 appeared on stage at the Lyric Theatre with Romeo and His Juliets. The next summer he toured the Gulf Coast with banjo player George Evans, and then settled in New Orleans, where he was joined by his family.

After six years playing nightclubs, speakeasies and vaudeville shows at the Orpheum Theater, Gallodoro moved to New York City and became a member of Isham Jones' big band. In 1936 he joined the Paul Whiteman orchestra. After that group disbanded in 1940 Gallodoro joined the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini. It is his clarinet glissando that opens the 1945 Warner Brothers' film version of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue".

In 1947 Whiteman invited Gallodoro to become an in-house soloist for the WJZ-AM radio station, where he remained a fixture for twenty years.

Gallodoro was known for transitioning from jazz to classical music effortlessly and appeared on numerous recordings. Composer Ferde Grofé tailored his "Gallodoro’s Serenade for Saxophone and Piano" for him in 1958. In 1959 Joe Giattina invited Gallodoro to come to Birmingham for the Festival of Arts Salute to Italy. While here he performed on clarinet and sax at the Roma Country Club. (Gallodoro's independent record label, "Golden Rooster Records", released Giattina's recording of that performance in 2008.)

Gallodoro appeared on screen as a street musician in the 1974 film The Godfather, Part II. In 1981, after the death of his wife, Mary, Gallodoro moved to Oneonta, New York. He continued to perform and record, often with pianist, manager and friend JoAnn Chmielowski. He continued to contribute live saxophone solos for radio at his local public station and launched his record label with a series of CD releases beginning in 1998.

Eventually Gallodoro's career was marked as much by longevity as by virtuosity. He celebrated his 95th birthday with a date at the Sego Café in Oneonta. His final public performance was at Corning, New York's Jazz Harvest Festival on Septmber 20, 2008.

Discography

  • Gallodoro, Al (1998) The Many Sides of Alfred Gallodoro, Vol. I. Golden Rooster Records
  • Gallodoro, Al (1999) Out of Nowhere, recorded with the Beau Hunks in Holland
  • Gallodoro, Al (2003) Live at Caffe Lena. Golden Rooster Records
  • Gallodoro, Al (2003) Sarasota Saxes. Golden Rooster Records
  • Gallodoro, Al (2006) Infinite Gallodoro. Golden Rooster Records/Chmusic Productions
  • Gallodoro, Al (2006) Saxophone Contrasts. Golden Rooster Records/Chmusic Productions
  • Gallodoro, Al (2008) A Moment in Time, recorded at the Roma Country Club in 1969.
  • Gallodoro, Al and JoAnn Chmielowski (2007) Daybreak - Lyrical Jazz. Golden Rooster Records/Chmusic Productions

References

  • Price, Erwin L. (December 1999) "Allegro Interviews Al Gallodoro." Allegro Archives. Vol. XCIX, No. 11
  • Chambers, J. (October 2, 2008) "Jazz legend with Birmingham roots releases CD recorded here in 1969." Birmingham Weekly
  • Palmateer, Jake (October 6, 2008) "Al Gallodoro, music legend and Oneonta resident, dies at 95." [Oneonta, New York] Daily Star
  • Chambers, J. (October 8, 2008) "Jazz great Al Gallodoro, who grew up in Birmingham, dies." Birmingham Weekly

External links

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