Don Fagerquist

Who was Don Fagerquist?

Donald Fagerquist was a small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player from the West Coast of the United States. He was a featured soloist with several major bands, including Mal Hallett, Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five, Woody Herman, Les Brown, and the Dave Pell Octet. He played on the memorable "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook" album under the baton of the great Nelson Riddle.

Despite high demand for his services as a lyrical soloist, he only recorded twice as a leader: a half-date for Capitol in 1955 and a complete project for Mode in 1957.

In 1956, Fagerquist signed on as a staff musician for Paramount Films, while still periodically recording with artists such as Shelly Manne, Mel Tormé, and Art Pepper.

Throughout the early- to mid-1960s, Fagerquist's solos could be heard on the recordings of Pete Rugolo, Frank Comstock, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Paul Weston, Si Zentner, Dean Martin and many others.

By 1966, health issues forced Fagerquist to withdraw from studio recording altogether. He died from kidney disease January 24, 1974, at his home in California.