A Smooth One - Peanuts Hucko 1987

A Smooth One - Peanuts Hucko 1987
Peanuts Hucko and his All Stars in Germany.
Hucko clarinet, Randy Sandke trumpet, Dan Barrett trombone, Johnny Varro piano, Colin Green bass and Jake Hanna drums.
A very relaxed and swinging band of American All Stars on tour through Europe in 1987 play a live concert for German TV featuring some of the tunes of Armstrong and Goodman
Peanuts Hucko (1912-2003) was born Michael Andrew Hucko. The swing clarinettist's lifelong nickname stemmed from his childhood love of peanuts. In 1939 Hucko came to New York City, where he began playing tenor sax with the bands of Will Bradley, Joe Marsala, Bob Chester and Charlie Spivak.
He served in Europe with Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band until the leader's disappearance in 1944. After Hucko began concentrating solely on clarinet he was featured in the trombonist's Dixieland combo, the Uptown Hall Gang. Fats Waller's hot-and-heavy "Stealin' Apples" became Hucko's signature tune, remaining in his repertoire from then on.
Following the war, Hucko did studio work for ABC and CBS while making the rounds of major jazz bands: Benny Goodman, Eddie Condon, Ray McKinley, Earl Hines, Jack Teagarden, the Louis Armstrong All-Stars. The clarinetist led his own combo at Condon's club in the mid-60s, then joined what evolved into The World's Greatest Jazz Band for annual gigs at Dick Gibson's Colorado Jazz Party. Hucko fell in love with Denver, opening his Navarre nightclub there in 1974. The club's featured performers included pianist Ralph Sutton and Hucko's wife, singer Louise Tobin (the ex-wife of Harry James).
In the 1970s Hucko's time was largely split between leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra on world tours and appearing on the Lawrence Welk Show. The 80s brought a career revival as Hucko worked regularly with his Pied Piper Quintet. He and Tobin later settled into semi-retirement in Denton, Texas.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazzhistory
• hucko

[Jazzbobill]

Smooth is the operative word on this one! A nice version by the All Stars, with excellent solos all around.Randy does some great mute work on his horn, followed by the very musical Mr Barrett( one of my favourites)on trombone."Peanuts", is of course, superb and the rhythm group backs up swinging to make this one solid group. Smooth!!!

[lisamariem100]

Peanuts was one of a kind.. He was my uncle and I was never left without feeling in awe at his performances... He was talented, kind and deserved much more recognition!!! His professional was the best!!!!!!

[jhucko7]

I'm not sure how but I'm related to this guy. hahaha

[skitrees]

Lisamariem100,

Like so many wonderful and talented performers; through YouTube and other digital venues out there, people like your uncle are gaining more and more fans. Sadly, this is too late for many of them - but please know his recognition is merely at its beginning! He will be remembered as one of the great clarinetists of his time.

[valvetrom]

Shit wizzard

[samk1992]

Don't act like an oh-so-superior dick, you limp-wristed cockmongling assravaging faggot

[BeatBreakIt]

Don't act like a loser.

[MARKMANIATT]

Thanks for this clip Bob.A fine little band and a great clip of my old friend 'Peanuts'.If I might just correct you though,Peanuts was born April 7th 1918.I worked with 'Huck' many times and he was as classy a gent as he was a Clarinet player.More of this please!!