Morty Corb

Morty Corb, a jazz bassist who performed with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey and Nat King Cole, among others. Born in San Antonio, Corb learned to play the ukulele at age 6 and later, without training, mastered the guitar and bass. He began performing professionally at 17 with a San Antonio dance band and later played with bands in Arkansas and Missouri. After appearing with a band in the Army Air Forces, he moved to Los Angeles in 1946 and soon joined Louis Armstrong's All-Stars band. He also recorded with Claude Thornhill, Jess Stacy and Kid Ory and later performed with Jack Teagarden and Bob Crosby. With his own group, he recorded the album Strictly From Dixie in 1957. In 1958 Corb recorded with The Kingston Trio "Scarlet Ribbons" and performed on Playhouse 90 episode "Rumors of Evening" with the Trio. Morty Corb was a double bass player who could and did play anything, anytime, with unfailing time and, in solos, articulate, melodic and uncluttered. He was a main stay in Pete Fountain's Quintet along with drummer Jack Sperling, whom Corb played together for years as regualrs on the Bob Cosby television show. The Bobcats at that time consisted of Ray Sherman, Eddie Miller, Jack Sperling, Morty Corb, Charlie Teagarden, Elmer Schneider and Al Hendrickson. Perhaps becoming most known to a new generation of jazz fans behind clarinetist Pete Fountain Quartett. "Anytime we got that gang together with Pete, you know, we all laughed and scratched and had fun. We never knew how long it would go or where it would end up, but everybody seemed to like it. It was a ball. And Pete? Everybody loves Pete!" That's super-drummer Jack Sperling, speaking of ad-lib, off-the-top concert in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on March 16, 1961. The gang, besides Pete and Jack, included Stan Wrightsman, piano, Godfrey Hirsh, vibes and Morty Corb, bass. During the two years Pete worked for Lawrence Welk, they played together all over the Los Angeles area. No arrangement, no sketched-out routines, just, "What'll we play next" and the sheer joy of musicians so closely attune that every riff, phrase or twist fed the next one. You'll never hear a happier session than this one: nor a more inovative approach to old chestnuts. A true bass virtuoso, later in his career, Morty was a mainstay at Disneyland, playing in big-bands and entertaining millions of visitors at the storied amusement park.

Was a long time staff musician with the NBC Studio Orchestra.