Shelly Manne

Shelly Manne
Shelly Manne, c. December 1946
Background information
Birth name	Sheldon Manne
Born	(1920-06-11)June 11, 1920 New York City, New York, United States
Died	September 26, 1984(1984-09-26) (aged 64) Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Jazz, cool jazz, third stream
Occupation(s)	Drummer, percussionist, composer, bandleader
Instruments	Drums, percussion
Years active	1939–1984

Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984), was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, swing, bebop, avant-garde jazz and fusion, as well as contributing to the musical background of hundreds of Hollywood films and television programs.

Manne's father and uncles were drummers. In his youth he admired many of the leading swing drummers of the day, especially Jo Jones and Dave Tough.Billy Gladstone, a colleague of Manne's father and the most admired percussionist on the New York theatrical scene, offered the teenage Shelly tips and encouragement. From that time, Manne rapidly developed his style in the clubs of 52nd Street in New York in the late 1930s and 1940s. His first professional job with a known big band was with the Bobby Byrne Orchestra in 1940. In those years, as he became known, he recorded with jazz stars like Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Shavers, and Don Byas. He also worked with a number of musicians mainly associated with Duke Ellington, like Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Lawrence Brown, and Rex Stewart.