empty cell Buddy DeFranco
Buddy DeFranco was an American jazz clarinetist born in Camden, New Jersey, and raised in South Philadelphia. He began playing the clarinet at age nine and, at fourteen, won a national Tommy Dorsey Swing contest. Throughout his career, he performed with notable musicians such as Gene Krupa, Charlie Barnet, Tommy Dorsey, and Count Basie. In 1950, he joined Count Basie's septet and later led the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1966 to 1974. DeFranco was known for his ability to adapt from swing to bebop, being one of the few clarinetists to successfully establish himself in both styles. Over his career, he recorded more than 160 albums and received numerous awards, including 20 DownBeat magazine awards and 16 Playboy All-Stars awards.
