Elkhart, Indiana
Blessing

Silver-plated brass
ca. 1980’s
Length: 19 inches
Wind Instruments – Brasswinds – Trumpets

Blessing USA, Serial Number: 478508  – Trumpet owned and performed on by Clark Terry w/hard case and Vincent Bach Corp, MT Vernon, NY 10 1/2D Mouthpiece

Clark Terry (1920 – 2015), a Grammy Award-winning American swing and bop trumpeter, nicknamed “Mumbles,” was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Vashon High School and began his professional career in the early 1940s by playing in local clubs before joining a Navy band during World War II. Afterwards, he played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948 to 1951), Duke Ellington (1951 to 1959), and Quincy Jones (1960). Terry’s years with Basie and Ellington established him as world-class jazz artist.  Both Miles Davis and Quincy Jones credit Terry for having a positive influence upon the early stages of their careers.  In the mid 50’s Terry’s international recognition soured when he became the first African-American staff musician for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), appearing regularly for ten years on ‘The Tonight Show’ sitting in with the ‘Tonight Show Band’ led by Doc Severinsen.  It was here, with his infectious good humor that his unique “mumbling” scat singing became famous and he was nicknamed “Mumbles.”  From the 70s through the 90s, Clark performed at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, and Lincoln Center, toured with the Newport Jazz All Stars and Jazz at the Philharmonic, and he was featured with Skitch Henderson’s New York Pops Orchestra.

Prompted early in his career by Dr. Billy Taylor, Terry and Milt Hinton bought instruments for and gave instruction to young hopefuls which planted the seed that became Jazz Mobile in Harlem. This venture tugged at Clark’s greatest love – involving youth in the perpetuation of Jazz. Between global performances, Clark continued to share wholeheartedly his jazz expertise and encourage students. Since 2000, he hosted Clark Terry Jazz Festivals on land and sea, held his own jazz camps, and appeared in more than fifty jazz festivals on six continents.

His career as both leader and sideman with more than three hundred recordings demonstrates that he is one of the most prolific luminaries in jazz. Clark composed more than two hundred jazz songs and performed for seven U.S. Presidents.  He is one of world’s Legendary Jazzmen, who’s career in jazz spans more than sixty years.