Biography
Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was a renowned American jazz saxophonist, primarily recognized for his tenor saxophone playing. Nicknamed "The Sound" due to his warm and lyrical tone, Getz was heavily influenced by his idol Lester Young's soft, mellow style. Rising to fame in the late 1940s as part of Woody Herman's big band, he has been hailed by critic Scott Yanow as "one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists." Getz performed in bebop and cool jazz ensembles and, inspired by João Gilberto and Antônio Carlos Jobim, played a key role in popularizing bossa nova in the U.S. with the 1964 hit "The Girl from Ipanema."
Born on February 2, 1927, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Stan Getz was the son of Alexander ("Al") Getz, who was born in Mile End, London, in 1904, and Goldie (née Yampolsky), born in Philadelphia in 1907. His paternal grandparents, Harris and Beckie Gayetski, originally came from the Kyiv region of Ukraine but moved to Whitechapel in London’s East End to escape anti-Jewish pogroms. While in England, they operated the Harris Tailor Shop on 52 Oxford Street for over 13 years. In 1913, Harris and Beckie emigrated to the United States with their three sons, Al, Phil, and Ben, following their eldest son Louis who had moved to the US the year before. Upon arrival in America, the family name was changed from "Gayetski" to Getz.
Initially settling in Philadelphia, the Getz family relocated to New York City during the Great Depression in search of better job prospects. Stan excelled academically, earning straight A's and ranking near the top of his sixth-grade class. His passion was music, and he experimented with several instruments before his father bought him his first saxophone at age 13. Although his father also provided him with a clarinet, Getz immediately fell for the saxophone, dedicating up to eight hours daily to practice.
Getz attended James Monroe High School in the Bronx and, in 1941, was admitted to the All-City High School Orchestra of New York City. This opportunity allowed him to receive private, free instruction from Simon Kovar, a bassoonist with the New York Philharmonic, while continuing to hone his saxophone skills. Though he eventually dropped out to focus on music, truancy officers later compelled him to return to school.
At 16, in 1943, Getz joined Jack Teagarden's band and, due to his youth, became Teagarden's ward. He also performed with Nat King Cole and Lionel Hampton. His stint with Stan Kenton in Los Angeles was brief, ending after Kenton criticized his main influence, Lester Young, as being too simplistic. After engagements with Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, Getz was a soloist with Woody Herman's "The Second Herd" from 1947 to 1949, gaining major recognition as part of the saxophone section known as "The Four Brothers," alongside Serge Chaloff, Zoot Sims, and Herbie Steward. During this period, he achieved a hit with "Early Autumn" in 1948.
4 wins and 10 nominations
