Stanley Newcomb Kenton
Born: 15 December 1911, Wichita, Kansas
Died: 25 August 1979, Hollywood, California
New York Times Obituary
“It is my wish that after my death the ‘Stan Kenton Orchestra’ be disbanded. I have not authorized anyone to use my name in connection with an orchestra, and I direct my Executors to take any necessary action to prevent such use of my name.” (From the last will and testament of Kenton; executed on 3 January 1978, Los Angeles, California)
Awards
Grammy – Best Jazz Performance (1961)
Large Group (Instrumental)
West Side Story
Grammy – Best Jazz Performance (1962)
Large Group (Instrumental)
Adventures In Jazz
Downbeat
Hall of Fame (1954)
Best Swing Band (1946
Best Band (1947)
Best Band (1950)
Best Band (1951)
Best Band (1952)
Best Jazz Band (1953)
Best Jazz Band (1954)
Metronome
Band of the Year (1946)
Band of the Year (1947)
Band of the Year (1948)
Band of the Year (1953)
Band of the Year (1954)
Band of the Year (1955)
Playboy Jazz All-Stars
Best Band Leader (1957)
Best Band Leader (1958)
Best Band Leader (1962)
Billboard
Most Promising New Band (1945, 1946)
Favorite Band (1947, 1948)
Best Liked Swing Band (June '46 - June '47)
Look
Top Band (1946)
Variety
All-Round Favorite Band – Disc Jockey Poll (1948)
Honorary Doctorates
Villanova University (1968)
Drury College (1974)
University of Redlands (1978)
Links
Purchase original charts from the Stan Kenton Library at Sierra Music Publications
Purchase Concerts in Miniature and Concert Encores on CD from Jerry Haendiges Productions
The Stan Kenton Collection at the University of North Texas
The Los Angeles Jazz Institute is the largest jazz archive and research center on the west coast and one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world
Friends of Big Band Jazz is the home of the Mike Vax Big Band and the Stan Kenton Alumni Band
Learn more about Terry Vosbein
Purchase Vosbein CDs and Sheet Music from Max Frank Music
Kenton Alumni Homepages
Living active Stan Kenton Alumni who host websites. If you know of one I have missed, please let me know.
For a “complete” listing of all Kenton instrumentalists, go here.