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Jack Sperling

The definitive American Big Band and studio drummer. He was a recording artist, versatile jazz combo and dynamic Dixieland musician. In 1941 he played with trumpeter Bunny Berigan. Following the end of World War II Jack, along with a young pianist Henry Mancini, joined Tex Beneke when he took the popular Glenn Miller big band on the road (1946-1949), following Miller's death. Sperling first gained distinction with the Beneke recording of "St. Louis Blues" (1948), becoming know for his pioneering, propelling double bass drum solos, his trade mark throughout his career. When he played a solo, the melody line remained part of his drum work. His styling understated and restrained with tight snare drum rolls and tasty ride cymbals behind the big band sounds set Sperling apart, the ultimate driving powerhouse. Jack soon became a main stay with Les Brown and His Band of Renown, then regulars on the Bob Hope NBC radio program in 1949, which they followed with the recording Over the Rainbow (1951). Dave Pell, the tenor sax soloist with Brown's band formed his own octet in 1953 with musicians from Brown's big band and the combo was often featured during Les Brown concerts before it broke away on its own in 1955. The Dave Pell Octet in its prime included Don Fagerquist on trumpet; Ray Sims, Zoot's brother, on trombone; Dave Pell on tenor; Ronnie Lang was on baritone, Geoffrey Clarkson on piano; Tony Rizzi on guitar; Rollie Bundock on bass, and Jack Sperling on drums, who's day gig then was playing with Bob Crosby's Bobcats (1954-57) appearing on his regular television series. The Bobcats at that time consisted of Ray Sherman, Eddie Miller, Jack Sperling, Morty Corb, Charlie Teagarden, Elmer Schneider and Al Hendrickson. Jack would go on to perform with Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, Page Cavanaugh Septet and Jack recorded with Dave Pell Octet, "Plays Irving Berlin" (1953), and on "The Original Reunion of the Glenn Miller Orchestra" (1954).

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Jack Sperling with Peggy Lee

Jack Sperling with Peggy Lee

Source: All About Jazz

Here's a cool clip from a late 60's TV special. Peggy Lee sings one of her hits “Fever" backed by Max Bennett on bass, who later became more well-known when he switched to electric bass and played with Tom Scott's LA Express. The drummer is the legendary Jack Sperling in a rare on-camera appearance.

Sperling passed away a few years ago at the age of 82. He got his start with trumpeter Bunny Berigan's band, then joined the Glenn Miller ...

The best drummer? Jack Sperling. He did maybe 40 albums with me, in California and New York. Just a fantastic drummer. He's kinda semi-retired. Jack was almost ten years older than me - I'm going on 72, Jack would be 82 now. He did a lot of stuff with a lot of big bands around the country - Les Brown for years. He did a lot of studio work. His stuff with me is just phenomenal.
Pete Fountain in an interview with Bunny Matthews

PETE FOUNTAIN DAY October 29, 1959. New Orleans paid him homage, with a concert at the Municipal Auditorium capping festivities. Drummer Jack Sperling, his two bass drums, various smaller drums and cymbals, and ex-Stan Ken-ton bassist, Don Bagley, were flown in from Holly- wood for the occasion. After taking in the sights and sounds of the city, the two West Coasters met with Pete and his New Orleans colleagues, vibist Godfrey Hirsch and pianist Merle Koch. The group talked things over before the concert, exchanged pleasantries, then sat down and wailed. It was as simple as that. Though the group had not performed together before, there was a surprising sense of rapport about the proceedings. Counter-lines, unisons and riffs were dashed off with precision and feeling; the rhythm section flowed, followed and underlined, often in an almost intuitive way. "And that drummer!" insisted my friend, "he (Jack Sperling) really broke things up with his great solos and rhythm playing. He made the group swing hard-and the entire audience reacted strongly." It was a memorable, lifting, musical evening in New Orleans .
Burt Korall Co-Editor The Jazz Word

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