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Karl Kiffe

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Karl Kiffe
Birth nameKarl Herman Kiffe
Born(1927-07-06)July 6, 1927
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedMay 10, 2004(2004-05-10) (aged 76)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1942–1994[1][2]

Karl Kiffe (July 6, 1925 – May 10, 2004) was an American jazz drummer featured in specialty numbers in a number of Hollywood feature films during World War II and later as a featured member of Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra.

Career

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Born in Los Angeles, Kiffe first attracted attention as winner of the annual Gene Krupa Contest in 1943.[3] Succeeding Chuck Falkner as leader of the Hollywood Canteen Kids,[4] Kiffe was featured in novelty numbers in several feature films before working as a single in Ken Murray's Blackouts. In July 1945 he was hired by Jimmy Dorsey, with whom he worked for about a year, and then again from July 1950 through February '53.[3] Over the next decade, Kiffe worked with, among others, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo and Woody Herman,[3] as well as singers Andy Williams,[5] June Christy,[3] and Ella Fitzgerald.[6]

Speaking in 1946, when asked which drummer he most admired, Kiffe cited the solos of Buddy Rich, while praising the big band work of Don Lamond and Jo Jones.[7]

Personal life

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In 1958, Kiffe married Carol Jean Beall in Las Vegas. They had two children.[8][9] He was also a great friends of the musician and saxophonist Warne Marsh.

Autobiography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cx1QjSAnwCIm3G4eWqoOzI_LQmDoFeXivfXkORfsBaY/edit?usp=sharing

Filmography

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Film

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Television

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Discography

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As sideman

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With Jimmy Dorsey

  • At the 400 Restaurant 1946 (HEP, 1994; rec. 1946)
  • Casino Gardens Ballroom 1946 (HEP, 1999; rec. 1946)
  • More (Jazz Crusade, 1950)
  • One Night Stand with Jimmy Dorsey at the Statler (Joyce, 198_; rec. November 1951)
  • The Swingin' Dorseys (Decca, 195_)

With others

References

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  1. ^ "'Johnny Doughboy' Clicks; New 'Sherlock Holmes' Tops". The Hollywood Reporter.
  2. ^ Weatherford, Mike. "Alumni Pay Tribute to Woody Herman." Las Vegas Review - Journal, May 05 1994, p. 1d. ProQuest. Web. 18 Jan. 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Feather, Leonard (1960). The Encyclopedia of Jazz. New York : Bonanza Books. p. 299.
  4. ^ a b "Bandleader Now Serving in Navy". San Fernando Valley Times. May 11, 1944. p. 17.
  5. ^ Duke (January 25, 1961). "Night Club Reviews: Desert Inn, Las Vegas". Variety. p. 55.
  6. ^ Wilson, Russ (December 1, 1962). "Ella Superb With Big Band Backing". Oakland Tribune. p. 4.
  7. ^ Schacht, Beulah (November 6, 1946). "Found: Musician Who Doesn't Want to Lead a Band". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Carol Beall". MyHeritage.
  9. ^ Karl Kiffe. Legacy.com.
  10. ^ "Reviews of the New Films". The Film Daily. December 24, 1942. p. 5.
  11. ^ "Canteen Aids Chuck Falkner; Valleyites with New Orchestra". North Hollywood Valley Times. July 20, 1943. p. 5. "In addition to Falkner, who is 16 and his sister Barbara, 14, who is the vocalist, the members of the organization include Morton Friedman, Warne Marsh, Dick Selix, Betty Churchill, Donald Walter, Bob Clarke, Paul Gray, Harold Jacobs, Karl Kiffe, Dave Welles, Scott McKennan, Ray HGall, Neil Cunningham, Johnny Check, Harry Matthews."
  12. ^ SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD - Original 1945 theatrical trailer. YouTube.
  13. ^ "Too Late to Classify; Features". The Exhibitor. April 18, 1945. pp. 1701, 1703.
  14. ^ Stockdale, Robert L. "The Dorsey Brothers - Filmdom's Favorites." IAJRC Journal 41.2 (2008): 46-56. ProQuest. Web. 18 Jan. 2022.
  15. ^ Harrod, James A. (2020). Stars of Jazz: A Complete History of the Innovative Television Series, 1956-1958. Jefferson, NC : McFarland & Company. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-4766-7770-5.
  16. ^ Tynan, John (May 29, 1958). "The Rooster Crows". Down Beat. pp. 14, 50. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  17. ^ Connor, D. Russell (1958). Benny Goodman: Listen to His Legacy. Metuchen, N.J. : The Scarecrow Press. p. 236. ISBN 0-8108-2095-1.
  18. ^ Sampson, Paul (September 9, 1956). "Dixie's Roots Rattled". The Washington Post and Times-Herald.
  19. ^ Wilson, John S. (October 19, 1958). "Jazz Musicians Kick Over Old Traces on LP". The New York Times. Sec. 2, p. 20.

Further reading

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Audio

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Video

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Miscellaneous

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