Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Don "Jake" Jacoby - Jacoby Brings the House Down 1968

All arrangements by Larry Muhoberac, recorded at IRI Studio, Dallas, TX

Don Jacoby was born in York, Pennsylvania. He began playing the trumpet at age 6 1/2. His uncle, Arthur Ansorg, was his teacher. He became a soloist with the Spring Garden Bank in York at nine and continued to play there until he graduated from high school at 16. During this time he played for the Horn and Hardart Children's Hour on the radio station WCAU Philadelphia, then one year with the "Tasty Yeast Youth Pageant" over WJZ in New York (Don was selected from a group of 3,000 young entertainers). He then entered the Ernest Williams School of Music of Brooklyn, New York. During this time he soloed at Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. He graduated from college at 19 and entered the pop music field.

Don joined the Milt Britton Band at Loew's State Theater, Times Square, New York. He played for Van Alexander, Claude Thornhill, and in May of 1941 he joined Les Brown. Don remained with Les Brown until January of 1942 at which time he entered the Navy. He was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station for two years. During this time he led his own band and performed with such noted artists as Andre Kostelanetz, Lily Pons, John Charles Thomas, Vladmir Horowitz, Nathan Milstein, Fritz Kreisler, Ferde Grothe and many others. While at the Great Lakes Naval Station, Jacoby was chosen as the "Star in Uniform" to perform with Tommy Dorsey on the Raleigh Cigarette program. In December of 1943 he married Doris Robinson of Waukegan, Illinois. He was with the Sam Donahue Navy Bank in the European Theater of operations for 13 months during which time his first son Mike was born.

Upon returning to the States, Don went to California with the Sam Donahue band to record "Command Performance", "Mail Call," etc. for airing to the troops overseas. With the advent of VJ Day, he was discharged from the Navy in Washington, D.C. and returned to Chicago to rejoin Les Brown. During this time he also worked for Benny Goodman. Jacoby decided to settle in Chicago and went on staff for ABC performing on first trumpet with the Don McNeill Breakfast Club for 9 1/2 years. Soon after joining ABC, Don's second son John was born, and then Bill, his third son. While in Chicago, Jacoby did many TV shows, including the Martin and Lewis Comedy Hour, the Ed Sullivan Show and numerous local shows: the Bob and Ray Show, the Danny O'Neill Show and the Tom Duggan Show.

Jacoby then worked for NBC and finally CBS. During the time he was at CBS he was associated with the Conn Band Instrument Co. He performed hundreds and hundreds of clinics and concerts with high schools and university bands in 49 states, Canada and Mexico. After doing the clinics and concerts for ten years, Don formed his own group and went on the road. While on the road the group performed at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago, the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, the Theatrical Grill in Cleveland, the Statler Hilton in Dallas, the Tidelands Hotel in Houston, the Cabaña in Dallas, Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale, the Mike Douglas Show and the Ruth Lyons Show in Cincinnati. He also did a concert tour with Bob Newhart, and made numerous concert appearances at universities with big stars. While at the Cabaña in Dallas, Don became very fond of the city and decided to move his family there and settle down. He appeared at the Executive Inn in Dallas for one year, and has just completed two years at Dallas' Village Club. During the last three years, Jacoby has done countless radio and TV commercials, jingles and commercial records. "Jacoby Brings the House Down" is his latest venture and everyone associated with the album believes it to be his greatest.

1. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
2. The Eyes Of Love
3. Theme From Elvira Madigan
4. The Heat Of The Night
5. Doo Dah
6. Jacoby's Theme
7. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)
8. (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me
9. Chain Of Fools
10. Sunday Best