Benny Strickler: A Trumpet Man For All Seasons

Hal Smith: One of the greatest musicians of the New Orleans Revival was a trumpet man from Arkansas named Benny Strickler. During his too-brief career he played and recorded with top swing, Western Swing and Traditional Jazz bands before dying of Tuberculosis on December 8, 1946. Born in Fayetteville, AR on January 9, 1917, Benny took music lessons as a pre-teen and later played in the town band. After graduating high school, he became a professional musician and played with several Territory bands in Arkansas and the Southwest. In 1935, with wife Frances in tow, he joined the migration from the Dust Bowl to the Golden State. In a short time, Benny established himself as one of the top hornmen in Los Angeles. He played with a variety of “name” bands, including those led by Ben Pollack, Joe Venuti, Vido Musso, and boxing champ/string bassist Max Baer. Strickler’s reputation as a trumpeter even brought an offer from Artie Shaw (which he did not accept). His first recordings were made in 1937, with the “Choirs of Brass,” led by vocalist/pianist Seger Ellis. In an era where nearly every dance and jazz orchestra featured a reed section, Ellis’ group only included one reed player. Benny shared most of the trumpet solos with a fellow Southwesterner—Nate Kazebier—who had played in Benny Goodman’s Orchestra of the mid-1930s. While still based in Los Angeles, Benny heard t