Quick Facts
Biography
Ed Leddy (1930—July 4, 2006) was an American jazz trumpeter who worked with several big-name jazz musicians including Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Red Norvo, and Mel Lewis.
Active from the 1950s, he was involved in 71 recording sessions.
Early life and education
Ed Leddy was born Edward H. Leddy Jr. in Westwood, New Jersey, in 1930, to Edward Leddy Sr. He had two siblings—Doris and Dr. Donald Leddy. The Leddy family were the owners of Leddy Fuel and Oil Co. in Hillsdale, New Jersey.
Leddy attended Westwood High School, in Washington Township, New Jersey, where he got a chance to play trumpet with the Charlie Spivak Orchestra at the Paramount Theater in New York City.
He took trumpet lessons from William Costello in New York City.
Career
Leddy was drafted into the US Army and was solo trumpet with the official Army Band. He then became the first trumpet with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
In the following years, Leddy played in Les Elgart and Larry Elgart Orchestra. In 1953, he accompanied the Joe Timer Orchestra to record Charlie Parker's album One Night In Washington (Elektra Musician Records) alongside Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Mert Oliver (bass); Jack Holliday (piano); Willis Conover (presenter); Angelo Tompros, Ben Lary, Jim Parker (tenor Saxophone); Don Spiker, Earl Swope, Rob Swope (trombone); and Bob Carey, Charlie Walp, Marky Markowitz (trumpet).
The following year, he was heard on Willis Conover's jazz album House Of Sounds (Brunswick Records) with Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Mert Oliver (bass); Jack Holliday (piano); Angelos Tompros, Ben Lary, Jim Parker (tenor saxophone); Don Spiker, Rob Swope, Earl Swope (trombone); and Marky Markowitz (trumpet).
On March 13, 1955, Leddy recorded One Night In Washington with Dizzy Gillespie's orchestra at Club Kavakos, in Washington, D.C. He then moved to the west coast to join Stan Kenton's group as the lead trumpeter and made several recordings with him in the next few years. In 1955, he was on Kenton's jazz record Contemporary Concepts alongside Max Bennett (bass); Mel Lewis (drums); Ralph Blaze (guitar); Lennie Niehaus, David Van Kriedt, Charlie Mariano, Bill Perkins (saxophone); Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, Carl Fontana (trombone); and Al Porcino, Stu Williamson, Sam Noto (trumpet). In May 1955, he recorded Kenton's The Four Freshmen featuring Kenton's wife Ann Richards. In 1956, he was on Kenton's Kenton In Hi-Fi.
In 1956, Leddy made a live recording with Canadian jazz bandleader Maynard Ferguson And His Original Dreamband accompanied by Herb Geller (alto Saxophone); Willie Maiden (baritone Saxophone); Red Kelly (bass); Mel Lewis (drums); Maynard Ferguson (leader); Paul Moer (piano); and Nino Tempo, Richie Kamuca (tenor saxophone).
In 1958, Leddy was on June Christy's June's Got Rhythm (Capitol Records) with George Spelvin (alto/tenor saxophone, flute); Bob Cooper (tenor saxophone); Monty Budwig (bass); Mel Lewis, Shelly Manne (drums); Laurindo Almeida (guitar); Russ Freeman (piano); Frank Rosolino (trombone); and Red Callender (tuba).
Leddy also worked on recordings by numerous other musicians in the West Coast Jazz scene:
- Marty Paich: I Get A Boot Out Of You (1956/57)
- Med Flory And His Orchestra: Go West Young Med! (1956)
- Mel Lewis: Septet & Sextet (1956)
- Richie Kamuca and Bill Holman: Jazz Erotica (1957)
- Don Fagerquist Octet: Music To Fill A Void (1957)
- Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars: Jazz Rolls Royce (1957)
- Red Norvo: Red Plays The Blues (1958)
- Johnny Mandel and Gerry Mulligan: I Want To Live! (1958)
- Shorty Rogers: Afro-Cuban Influence (1958)
- Conte Candoli
- Lennie Niehaus: I Swing For You (1960)
Other notable works
Leddy contributed to the soundtrack of Stanley Donen's musical Funny Face starring Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn, and Kay Thompson.
He also backed up Ella Fitzgerald, Patti Page, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra.
Death
Leddy died at the Lakeview Subacute Care Center in Wayne, New Jersey, on July 4, 2006, at age 76.