You may know Jack Sheldon from his jazz records and concerts. You may know him from his TV work on The Merv Griffin Show or Dragnet or a great, forgotten series called Run, Buddy, Run. You may even know him from his voiceover work in commercials and on things like Schoolhouse Rock. He's a great musician and a very funny guy.
In June of 2011, the Internet was full of reports that he'd died — reports that we were happy to help debunk. What was true though was that he'd had a stroke and he didn't perform for some time. We are happy again to hear that the other night at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, Jack Sheldon's big band performed…with Jack playing the trumpet. Because of the stroke, he's had to learn to play it left-handed…but learn he did and I'm hearing he sounded as good as ever. Wish I'd been there to help celebrate his return…and also his 82nd birthday.
Here's an interview my pal Leonard Maltin did with Jack before his illness about a recent documentary on his work. He also discusses being on Dragnet and reading the TelePrompter, as we discussed before here. Oh — and the thing Merv Griffin mentions — about Jack playing like a street musician down at the Music Center and accepting tips — I actually saw that. I'd see him playing down there and I'd throw a few bucks in his container. And all these people like me who recognized him would wonder why Jack Sheldon — the guy on The Merv Griffin Show — was playing there for tips. I think I once even offered to tip him a fiver for a chorus of "I'm Just a Bill…"
