Pittsburgh-native and Duquesne University alum Sammy Nestico celebrated his 96th birthday in February 2020. As a composer, arranger and bandleader, his career has spanned decades and his charts have been heard by millions.
Earlier this month, we got word that Sammy entered into long-term hospice care in the San Diego area. Of late, we understand he’s receiving care now at his home in Carlsbad, CA. He’s been receiving well wishes and appreciation from his facebook page, and a fan page - and he enjoys every message - and many have been from Pittsburgh. People who have known Sammy, musicians who have played his charts and listeners who’ve enjoyed the great sounds over the decades.
This time on the scene, we share our appreciation of Sammy, joined by Butler-native Jim Anderson as well as great sounds from decades of Sammy Nestico charts.
We also want to remind you about a long-awaited documentary on Sammy’s life - which has some major Pittsburgh connections.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Diane Estelle Vicari is completing a feature-length film Shadow Man. It tells the story of Sammy Nestico through pictures and sounds, Sammy's own words, and the words of others. Diane graciously offered up stories from the film for us to share with Pittsburgh listeners.
You can read more about the film project at the website. There’s also a Kickstarter page for the project with more details.
Not only have bands fronted by Basie and Quincy Jones relied on Sammy Nestico tunes and arrangements - but so have artists like Sinatra, Phil Collins, Bing Crosby Sarah Vaughan, Toni Tennille, Barbra Streisand and many more.
This week on “The Scene” on WZUM, we highlight some music of Sammy Nestico, including his first full LP with Count Basie in 1968, “Basie Straight Ahead,” the beautiful Send in the Clowns with Sarah Vaughan, the Phill Collins Big Band project, featuring Gerald Albright, plus the latest CD of music with the US Army Jazz Ambassadors, “the Sammy Sessions”
Sammy Nestico and Jim Anderson
Hear Sammy Nestico tell how Pittsburgh’s Grover Mitchell was instrumental in starting Sammy’s long tenure with the Count Basie Orchestra, tales of the Stanley Theater, how Sammy came to start in music at Oliver High School, and his start at WCAE radio when he was just 17.
We also talk with Grammy-winning engineer and producer Jim Anderson about working with Sammy Nestico (Jim’s from Pittsburgh, too!).
Hear it on WZUM - Thursday night at 6, Sunday night at 5.
Sammy Nestico
Sammy worked on scores for scores of popular TV shows from Charlies Angels to Mannix and Mission Impossible. Early on in his career, he played trombone with bands led by Gene Krupa, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey and Charlie Barnet.
Sammy Nestico is a Pittsburgh native, and earned his Bachelor’s in music education from Duquesne University in 1950. Appropriately, his charts have been played by thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of jazz and concerts band students over the decades.
The Scene - Thursday at 6pm, Sundays at 5pm on WZUM, Friday and Saturday at noon.
Sammy Nestico, Army Air Force Band
