Johnny Best

This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Johnny Best started off learning the piano but switched to trumpet when he was 13. During his impressive career as a sideman in the big bands, Johnny played with several top orchestras such as Glenn Miller, Charlie Barnes, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Les Brown. He worked often with Bob Crosby and with such jazz greats as Ella Fitzgerald. In fact, that's Johnny's trumpet you hear on Ella's hit album "Get Happy."