Ted Nash

Early life and career Nash was born in the Boston suburb of Somerville, Massachusetts. Before he began playing saxophone in his early teens, his aspiration was to become a classical flautist. His professional career began when he went on the road with a succession of dance bands. In 1944, he became tenor saxophonist for the big band of Les Brown. With Brown, he played on the number one hits "Sentimental Journey" and "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time", both sung by Doris Day. He was known for his mastery of the extreme altissimo register of the saxophone. He wrote Ted Nash's Studies in High Harmonics for Tenor and Alto Saxophone published in 1946.

Through the 1950s and 1960s, he worked as a sideman for June Christy, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Nancy Wilson. During the 1970s, he worked with Judy Collins and Quincy Jones. He retired in the 1980s.

Discography As leader The Brothers Nash (Liberty, 1955) Star Eyes, The Artistry of Ted Nash (Columbia, 1956) Peter Gunn (Crown, 1959)

As sideman With Georgie Auld In the Land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and His Orchestra (EmArcy, 1955)

With Elmer Bernstein Sweet Smell of Success (Decca, 1957) Paris Swings (Capitol, 1960)

With Barney Kessel Music To Listen To Barney Kessel By (Contemporary, 1956)

With Henry Mancini The Music from Peter Gunn (RCA Victor, 1959) – soundtrack More Music from Peter Gunn (RCA Victor, 1959) – soundtrack The Mancini Touch (RCA Victor, 1960) The Blues and the Beat (RCA Victor, 1960) Music from Mr. Lucky (RCA Victor, 1960) Combo! (RCA Victor, 1961) Breakfast at Tiffany's (RCA Victor, 1961) – soundtrack Hatari! (RCA Victor, 1962) – soundtrack Our Man in Hollywood (RCA Victor, 1963) Uniquely Mancini (RCA Victor, 1963) Mancini '67 (RCA Victor, 1967)

With Pete Rugolo Behind Brigitte Bardot (Warner Bros., 1960)

With Lalo Schifrin Che! (Tetragrammaton, 1969)