Dick Cary was a much-recorded jazz composer, pianist and horn player who was active from the 1940s until his death in 1994. He was one of the most prolific composers in jazz history with a catalog of complete jazz-band compositions and arrangements numbering more than 3,200. While never extremely famous, Dick Cary was well known to jazz musicians and music insiders for his wonderful performing and arranging.
Born near Hartford, Connecticut, Dick Cary spent the first half of his career in New York City. He played important roles in the bands of Louis Armstrong, Eddie Condon and Bobby Hackett, among others. In 1959, he moved to the Los Angeles area of California and continued his career which, by this time, was an international one. While working steadily, he formed his now famous rehearsal band, "The Tuesday Night Friends," to play his new compositions. The alumni of this group reads like a Who's Who of West Coast jazz.
The Tuesday Night Friends carry on today, 12 years after Cary's death. They perform Dick Cary's music privately every week, while appearing at jazz clubs and festivals from time to time. They have cataloged and micro-filmed all of Dick Cary's music manuscripts. They are recording a series of CDs of Dick Cary's music -- the CD entitled "Got Swing?" is the second!
If you want information beyond what is on this site, please contact Mr. Turner at the address given.