Arnold Fishkin

Arnold Fishkind
Arnold Fishkind in the 1960s
Background information
Birth name	Arnold Aaron Fishkind
Born	(1919-07-20)July 20, 1919
Origin	New York City, New York, US
Died	September 6, 1999(1999-09-06) (aged 80)
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Upright bass
Years active	1937–1988

Arnold Fishkind, sometimes credited as Arnold Fishkin (born July 20, 1919 – September 6, 1999,) was an American jazz bassist who appeared on over 100 albums.

Fishkind was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, and grew up in Freeport, Long Island, where he met and began a lifelong friendship with Chubby Jackson. At age 7 Fishkind began learning violin, and played in "The Musical Aces", a local band of budding musicians. By age 14 he was playing bass.

Fishkind had his first professional gig with Bunny Berigan in 1937. Following this he played with Jack Teagarden (1940–41), Van Alexander, and Les Brown (1941–42). His career was interrupted at this point by three years of service in the armed forces during World War II.

In mid-1946 Fishkind met and played with pianist Lennie Tristano in New York, but by the fall he left to go to Hollywood to play with Charlie Barnet. During this experience he played alongside Stan Getz. In 1947 Fishkind returned to New York City, where from 1947 to 1949 he played with Tristano, and from 1949 to 1951 he appeared on recordings with Lee Konitz and on Johnny Smith's Moonlight in Vermont. During this period he also continued to play with Barnet, and played with Benny Goodman.

In the 1950s he found much work as a session musician, for radio (for example, "Across the Board",) television (for example, The Steve Allen Show,) and pop musicians (including Frankie Laine). His career at ABC lasted fifteen years and included appearances in the Andy Williams Show in 1961. Fishkind became well known enough during this time to be mentioned by Jack Kerouac in his novel Visions of Cody.