Sam Marowitz

Sam Marowitz (February 17, 1920—December 4, 1984) was an American jazz musician who played alto saxophone and clarinet. He worked with many celebrated jazz musicians of the time, including Gene Krupa, Elliot Lawrence, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, Osie Johnson, Woody Herman, and Erroll Garner.

Between 1941 and 1967, he was involved in over 400 jazz recording sessions.

Sam Marowitz was born Samuel Marowitz in Middletown, New York, on February 17, 1920.

Marowitz began his professional music career in the early 1940s with Harry James and His Orchestra and made his first recordings in 1941. In 1944/45, he played his saxophone on James' recording of "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen" (Odeon Records), alongside saxophonist Chuck Gentry, double bassist Thurman Teague, guitarist Benny Heller, pianist Al Lerner, trombonist Hoyt Bohannon, and cellist Elias Friede.

After James' band, Marowitz played in Woody Herman and His Orchestra as the lead alto saxophonist. He can be heard on Herman's compilation album Woody Herman Second Herd (released in 1982 on Capitol Records), accompanied by:

• Baritone saxophone: Marty Flax and Serge Chaloff
• Bass: Chubby Jackson and Joe Mondragon, Red Mitchell
• Drums: Don Lamond, Shelly Manne, and Sonny Igoe
• Piano: Dave McKenna and Lou Levy
• Tenor saxophone: Al Cohn, Bob Graf, Buddy Wise, Stan Getz, and Zoot Sims
• Trombone: Bill Harris, Earl Swope, and Eddie Bert
• Trumpet: Bernie Glow, Conte Candoli, Ernie Royal, Neal Hefti, Red Rodney, and Shorty Rogers
• Vibraphone: Milt Jackson and Terry Gibbs

In 1947, Marowitz replaced saxophonist Harry Terrill in the Gene Krupa Big Band and was heard on Krupa's album 1947-1949 on Classics Records, with Bob Strahl (bass); Joe Dale (drums); Bob Lesher (guitar); Buddy Neal (piano); Mitch Melnick (tenor saxophone); Clay Hervey, Dick Taylor, Emil Mazaneo, Jack Zimmerman (trombone); Al Porcino, Don Fagerquist, Ed Badgley, Ray Triscari (trumpet); and Bill Black, Carolyn Grey, George Williams (vocals). He remained with the band until 1950.

In the 1950s, Marowitz played in New York in the bands of Gene Williams, Sam Donahue, Jimmy Roma, Bill Harris, Elliot Lawrence, Benny Goodman, Les Elgart, Ralph Flanagan, Ralph Burns, Lennie Hayton/Lena Horne, Terry Gibbs, Ernie Wilkins/Sarah Vaughan, Coleman Hawkins, Boyd Raeburn, Andy Kirk, Joe Newman, Manny Albam, Al Cohn, Tony Scott, Joe Reisman, Chubby Jackson, and Cab Calloway.

In 1958, he worked again with Woody Herman and recorded The Herd Rides Again alongside Chubby Jackson (bass); Don Lamond (drums); Billy Bauer (guitar); Nat Pierce, Al Cohn, Danny Bank, Paul Quinichette, Sam Donahue (saxophone); Billy Byers, Bob Brookmeyer, Frank Rehak (trombone); Al Stewart, Bernie Glow, Burt Collins, Ernie Royal, Joe Ferrante, Marky Markowitz, and Nick Travis (trumpet).

In 1959, Marowitz, under his name "Big Sam" Marowitz And His Alto Sax, recorded Sounds In The Night on Roulette Records, accompanied by Charles Albertine's Orchestra. The 12-track album included songs written by Earle Hagen ("Harlem Nocturne"), Duke Ellington ("Warm Valley"), George Gershwin ("Summertime"), and Arthur Hamilton ("Cry Me A River").

In the early 1960s, Marowitz was in the orchestras of Tony Pastor, George Dale Williams, Sy Oliver, and Buddy Rich.

At various times in his career, Marowitz also recorded with:

• Without Woody with Flip Phillips Boptet (1947)
• Songs By Jackie Paris with Jackie Paris (1957)
• Chris Connor with Chris Connor (1956)
• Guest: Ray Charles – 1955-1969 with Betty Carter
• Come Swing With Me Beverly Kenney (1956)
• Play It Again, Erroll! with Erroll Garner (1975)
• String Fever with Chuck Wayne (1957)
• "What A Wonderful World" on Louis Armstrong's All Time Greatest Hits with Louis Armstrong (1994)

Marowitz was married to Shelly (1923–1997). They had a daughter, Ellen Sue Marowitz Ginty (1954–2022).

Marowitz died in Orlando, Florida, on December 4, 1984, at age 64.