Tributes are pouring in on social media to the Count Basie arranger Sammy Nestico who has died. He was 96.
Sammy Nestico changed my life. He lit the flame for my love of big band music back when I was in middle school. And the fact that this man would eventually become a friend and colleague is something I never got used to. I will never get over this loss.
— Gordon Goodwin (@gordongoodwin) January 17, 2021
RIP, Sammy. We love you. pic.twitter.com/jdZBJ3A7je
Nestico for 14 years was an arranger for the Count Basie Orchestra. Of Italian descent he grew up in Pittsburgh, playing trombone as a child and starting to gig in clubs. During World War II he was in the US Army Band and later the US Air Force and Marine Corps bands. With Basie he recorded 10 albums together including several Grammy winners. For film and TV he wrote themes and incidental music for hit shows including The Mary Tyler Moore Show and MASH.
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