Milt Benrhart

Milt Bernhart (b. Valparaiso, Indiana, May 25, 1926 – d. Glendale, California, January 22, 2004) – Trombonist and bandleader. After starting out on the tuba at age ten, Bernhart switched to the trombone in high school. He got his professional start with the Boyd Raeburn band and played with Benny Powell about a year later. Following military service during WW II, Bernhart joined Stan Kenton’s band, which he played with on and off for about ten years. Bernhart’s was featured in Kenton’s band anthem “The Peanut Vendor.” During that stretch, he also played for a short time with Benny Goodman. In 1955, he led his first album, which was called Modern Brass and came out on RCA. The popular album showcased the talents of trumpeters Maynard Ferguson, Pete Candoli (also a native of Northern Indiana), and Shorty Rogers. At the same time, he started working as a studio musician with Columbia Records studio orchestra. In that capacity, he played on the film soundtracks for The Man with the Golden Arm with Frank Sinatra and The James Dean Story as well as the TV score for Peter Gunn. In 1986, he became president of the Big Band Academy of America, which strives to perpetuate and preserve the big band tradition.