Tram: The Frank Trumbauer Story [Hardcover]

Philip R. Evans (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810828510 | ISBN-13: 978-0810828513 | Publication Date: June 1994

During those years, all sax men copied Tram. They knew all of his choruses from his recordings and when he appeared in person, they'd flock to hear him play. —From the Foreword by "Rosy" McHargue Frank was an American Music Legend. His life was brief, 1901-1956, but he left us a legacy of his phonograph records. When Jimmy Dorsey joined the Ray Miller Orchestra, he was asked to play like Tram. Lester Young carried Tram's recordings in his suitcase. "Toots" Mondello said that a sax man wasn't judged complete until he mastered Trumbauer's solo on "Singin' The Blues." Frank's daughter, Lynne, made available his private papers, diaries, letters, and interviews, resulting in a complete accounting of his life. Frank's remarks were culled from these sources and properly placed to give the readers a continual sense of Tram commenting as they turn the pages. Tram's complete story is presented: The divided love between music and aviation; his years with Paul Whiteman; his friends, Zentner, Bing, Hoagy, and Bix.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If your interest lies in learning previously unknown facts about the personal life and recordings of one of the most influential sax men of all time, then this book is for you. A masterful job on a tough subject. (Mississippi Rag )

...destined to be the definitive volume on Frank Trumbauer...painstaking and thorough research...a good portion of the text is in his own words, transcribed from an autobiography that he started but never completed... (Jersey Jazz )

Anyone interested in this great period of American popular music will want this complete biography. Philip Evans did an excellent job researching this most interesting book. (Michigan Jazz Record Collectors )

A new monumental edition in the literature of Jazz...The work is a welcome addition to the present offering of books on Jazz...another important piece in the documentation of the history of Jazz and a "must have" work for collectors and all those interested in the music. (Friedrich Hachenberg )

All in all, this is a truthful, loving and carefully researched story of a life lived to the fullest. This is a find indeed for jazz historians and collectors alike. Highly recommended! (West Coast Rag )

I must urge readers to try and find this and purchase it at the earliest opportunity...this has to be one of the most readable and enjoyable Bio-discographies published...I urge anyone with an interest in Jazz History to find this book and buy it--They'll never regret it. (England )

This is a most comprehensive and lovingly researched book... (Bing )

Tram left us all too soon. How fortunate it is that such a long-awaited book, after all these years, will aid to preserve the memory of this great jazz artist. (Iajrc Journal )

This has to be one of the most readable and enjoyable bio-discographies published since Evans's book on Bix and I urge anyone with an interest in jazz history to find this book and buy it--they'll never regret it. (Richard Johnson )

I can think of no other one book that sheds as much light on jazz played in the 1920's by white musicians. (Victrola And 78 Journal )

...and it will delight anyone interested in Bix, Paul Whiteman, the 1920s, the early days of white jazz, or the musician himself, Frank Trumbauer. (Jazz Journal )

...a most welcome addition to the family of biographies of jazz musicians of the 1920s and 1930s. It is a very engaging way to present Tram's story, and the book reads well; so well, that it is hard to put it down...not only an excellent biography, but a top-notch reference work as well. (Iajrc Journal )

If you're a saxophonist, historian, or "moldy fig," you'll definitely want to check out this book! If you're none of the above but interested in good biographies, you may still want to visit this wondeful resource. (Jazz Educators Journal )

...a true bonanza for any researcher. (Quad City Times )

About the Author

Philip R. Evans is a renowned researcher, writer, and consultant of the music and musicians of the bygone era. He co-authored Al Jolson (Scarecrow, 1984) with Larry Kiner and Philip R. Evans, as well as The Red Nichols Story (Scarecrow, 1997) with Stan & Steve Hester, and Linda Evans. Larry F. Kiner compiled discographies since the 1940s, with special emphasis on the personalities of the pre- 1950 era and some of the non-jazz orchestras. Among his books are discographies on Nelson Eddy (Scarecrow, 1992), and Al Jolson (Scarecrow, 1984).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 859 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810828510
• ISBN-13: 978-0810828513
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,739,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed book, but some strange choices, November 1, 2011

By 

B. Margolis (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tram: The Frank Trumbauer Story (Hardcover)

I was looking for a companion to the wonderful Sudhalter book on Bix. This thick book has much of what i was looking for, but it's a surprise that there is little information about his signing to various record labels. Even stranger is the writer's decision to show Trumbauer's lengthy recording discography in alphabetical order, rather than chronological. I have never seen this in any book about this period. I'm glad I bought a copy, but I doubt that many collectors of this period would find it acceptable.