JACK SHELDON-Biography

Biography
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Jazz Institute of Chicago

The Original Lions

An "Unequaled Trumpeter", "Superbvocalist", and "All-Around Great Entertainer", Jack Sheldon began his illustrious musical career as a child in Jacksonville, Florida. By the time he was 15 he was appearing professionally at various jazz venues throughout the city. He soon moved to California where he was quickly recognized as a Jazz Great.

Along with Lester Young in the 30s, Dizzy Gillespiein the 40s, and Zoot Simms in the 50s, Jack Sheldon is one of the Original Lions of the West Coast Sound.

The West Coast Jazz Scene

Sheldon, a premier improviser, is one of only a handful of trumpet players throughout jazz history who has developed his own distinctive "signature sound". It's an inimitable sound that comes from his heart and soul...what Miles Davis called "a voice".

As an integral part of the West Coast Scene of the 1950s, he played an important role in developing that era's bebop-inspired sound. His solid connection to that vibrant period in West coast Jazz surfaces with each impeccable solo.

Collaborations

Sheldon's collaborative list is indeed long and impressive: Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Curtis Counce, Shelly Manne, Art Pepper, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Sammy Davis Jr., Rosemary Clooney, Diane Schuur and many other greats.

International Acclaim

Nominated five times for the "Playboy International Artist Of The Year Award", Jack Sheldon continues to dazzle audiences with his prodigious chops and "unerring sense of swing..."

Movies, TV, Soundtracks, and more...

A True Trumpet Virtuoso, Jack Sheldon has been featured on innumerable soundtracks. It was his sensuous trumpet solo that immortalized Johnny Mandel's "The Shadow of Your Smile" from the Taylor-Burton film The Sandpiper. Today, his lyrical trumpet continues to garner the spotlight on soundtracks like Object of Beauty, The Super, White Men Can'tJump, For The Boys, Mr. Saturday Night, Speechless, and Forget Paris. Sheldon is indeed "one of the world's great trumpet players".

A sublime vocalist, Jack Sheldon has been ranked as "one of the top jazz singers of the day" (Zan Stewart, Los AngelesTimes). In addition to the many recordings show casing his trumpet, he's been a featured singer on soundtracks like Speechless (MGM), Stuart Saves His Family (Paramount), and Norman Jewison's Bogus. Merv Griffin describes Sheldon's as "an unforgettable voice".

Jack Sheldon made his acting/comedy debut on "The Steve Allen Show". His comedic skill was an immediate hit and he was soon given his own TV sitcom by CBS, Run Buddy Run. Over the years Sheldon has also appeared regularly on various television series including Dragnet, and Star Trek-The Next Generation. But his most powerful and popular TV stint was his tremendously successful 18 year association with Merv Griffin as featured soloist, resident comedian and musical director on The Merv Griffin Show. Sheldon and Griffin continue to perform together in various citys throughout the year and Sheldon is featured on Griffin's annual televised special, Merv Griffin's New Years Eve Celebration.

Sheldon has guest-starred in several major motion pictures including For The Boys, starring Bette Midler, James Caan, and George Segal; Lush Life, a Showtime Feature Presentation, in the role of "Norman" alongside Jeff Goldbloom and Forest Whitaker; and in the George Lucas major motion picture production of The Radioland Murders for Universal Pictures in the role of "Raffles". Most recently, he appears as "Whitebeard" in the latest Gary Marshall film, DearGod.

Jack Sheldon's distinctive voice has been heard consistently over the years on numerous commercials, motion pictures, and animated shows such as the Disney cartoon "Bonkers", and the unforgettable Conjunction Junction and Just a Bill from ABC Television's Schoolhouse Rock series; both of which have achieved cult fame. He's completed several new Schoolhouse Rock cartoons for ABC including Mr Morton, Where The Money Goes, and Busy Prepositions. He was recently a guest on an episode of The Simpson's. He's been the voice of Commonwealth Edison's Louie the Lightningbug for over twenty years. He is the voice of "Mr. Sensitivity" on the new Hanna Barbera cartoon Johnny Bravo. Currently you can hear his Pepcid AC television commercial airing nationwide.

In A Nutshell

Jack Sheldon's importance to the entertainment industry has been a constant throughout his career spanning from the 1940s to the present ... and from bebop to voice-overs. He is living proof that jazz and showbiz do mix. Jack Sheldon's mark on the world of entertainment is indelible.

Annually, Sheldon hosts his own jazz party, "The Jack Sheldon Jazz Buffet-The World's Greatest Jazz Party" which showcases many jazz dignitaries including Jack Sheldon and his Orchestra, Flip Phillips, Scott Hamilton, Milt Hinton and many others.