Eddie Safranski

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Eddie Safranski
Background information
Birth nameEric Edward Safranski
BornDecember 25, 1918[1]
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 10, 1974(1974-01-10) (aged 55)[2]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Double bass
Years active1940s–1970s

Eddie Safranski (December 25, 1918 – January 10, 1974)[1] was an American jazz double bassist, composer and arranger who worked with Stan Kenton. He also worked with Tony Bennett, Charlie Barnet, Benny Goodman and Bobby Darin.[3] From 1946 to 1953 he won the Down Beat Readers' Poll for bassist.[4]

Biography[edit]

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States,[1] Safranski took violin lessons as a child. In high school he began playing double bass.[1]

His career began in 1941 with Hal McIntyre.[1] Safranski played bass and wrote arrangements for McIntyre until 1945.[1] He then worked with Miff Mole, Stan Kenton, and Charlie Barnet.[1]

After moving to New York City, he was hired by NBC as a studio musician.[1] During the 1950s, he played with Benny Goodman and Marian McPartland. In the 1960s, he taught classes and workshops as the representative of a bass company.[2][3]

At the end of his career, he lived in Los Angeles and played in bands there.[2]

Personal[edit]

He was born Eric Edward Szafranski to Bronislaw and Wladyslawa. He was married to Irene Kovach and had one daughter, Erica. He died in Los Angeles, California, in January 1974, at the age of 55.[5]

Discography[edit]

As sideman[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2176. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ a b c Ostransky, Leroy (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 3 (2 ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. p. 488. ISBN 1-56159-284-6.
  3. ^ a b Ginell, Richard S. "Eddie Safranski". AllMusic. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Down Beat". Archived from the original on 26 October 2005. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Eddie Safranski - Pittsburgh Music History". Sites.google.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.