Leon Merian

{{Short description|American jazz trumpeter}} '''Leon Merian''' (17 September 1923 – 15 August 2007) was an American jazz trumpeter and teacher. Dizzy Gillespie described his playing as "one of the most beautiful sounds you'll ever hear".<ref name="JT">{{Cite journal|title=Jazz Times|date=2003|journal=JazzTimes|page=158}}</ref> Merian was also a French teacher and public school administrator.

==Life== He was born Leon Megerdichian<ref name="Clarke">{{Cite book|title=Pseudonyms|author=Joseph F. Clarke|publisher=BCA|date=1977|page=114}}</ref> in South Braintree, Massachusetts, on 17 September 1923, to Armenian immigrant parents.

Merian learned trumpet from Georges Mager.

He was a member of Lucky Millinder's band when it toured the segregated south; he was not welcome at either "white" or "colored" establishments, and ended up sleeping on the tour bus.<ref name="JT" />

Merian moved to 20th Century Fox Records in November 1958.<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=Billboard |title=Music as Written |last=Rolontz |first=Bob |page=12 |date=3 November 1958 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3goEAAAAMBAJ}}</ref>

He later had his own band; one member of it was Herb Phillips.

His publications included the well known ''Trumpet Isometrics''. He published an autobiography in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.local802afm.org/allegro/articles/802-bookshelf-leon-merian-the-man-behind-the-horn/|title=802 Bookshelf: "Leon Merian, The Man Behind The Horn"|website=Associated Musicians of Greater New York – Local 802|date=October 2000 }}</ref>

Merian died on 15 August 2007, in Sarasota, Florida.

==Discography== ===As leader=== * ''The Magic Horn'' (Decca) {|class="wikitable" !Matrix number (Decca)!!Date!!Title |- |103161||28 August 1957||The Magic Horn |- |103162||28 August 1957||Love theme from La Strada |- |103163||28 August 1957||Harlem nocturne |- |103164||28 August 1957||Someone to watch over me |- |103181||29 August 1957||My love and I |- |103182||29 August 1957||The crying wind |- |103183||29 August 1957||Lonely wine |- |103184||29 August 1957||The nearness of you |- |103374||24 August 1957||Something sentimental |- |103375||24 August 1957||When you wish upon a star |- |103376||24 August 1957||My silent love |- |103377||24 August 1957||Dream along with me |- |105219||26 June 1958||One Day I'll Buy a Trumpet |- |105220||26 June 1958||Bing! Bang! Bong! |}

===As sideman=== * Specs Powell, ''Movin' In'' (Roulette, 1957) * Tito Puente, ''The Essential Tito Puente'' (RCA, 2005) * Pete Rugolo, ''Rugolomania'' (Columbia, 1955)

====Lucky Millinder Orchestra==== With the Lucky Millinder Orchestra: {|class="wikitable" !Matrix number (Decca)!!Date!!Title |- |73395||26 February 1946||How big can you get |- |73396||26 February 1946||More, more, more |- |73397||26 February 1946||There's good blues tonight |- |73398||26 February 1946||Shorty's got to go |- |73399||26 February 1946||Chittlin' switch |- |73561||10 May 1946||Fare Thee well Deacon Jones |- |73861||11 April 1947||You can't put out a fire |- |73862||11 April 1947||The spider and the fly |- |73863||11 April 1947||Let it roll |- |73864||11 April 1947||Begging for love |}

====Gladys Bruce==== With Gladys Bruce: {|class="wikitable" !Matrix number (Decca)!!Date!!Title |- |81296||20 July 1951||If, if, if you were mine |- |81297||20 July 1951||I've got the blues for my baby |- |81298||20 July 1951||Trinidad Daddy |- |81299||20 July 1951||The right kind of feeling |}

====Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band==== {|class="wikitable" !Matrix number (Decca)!!Date!!Title |- |102267||15 April 1957||Swizzle Time |- |102268||15 April 1957||Late Hours |- |102269||15 April 1957||You for Me |- |102270||15 April 1957||Readin', Writin' and Rockin' |- |102279||16 April 1957||Three Bad Men |- |102280||16 April 1957||Gumbo Rock |- |102281||16 April 1957||Kissing Rock |- |102282||16 April 1957||Sweet Potato Pie |- |102283||17 April 1957||The Street |- |102284||17 April 1957||Mr. Onion Head |- |102285||17 April 1957||Ease Down |- |102286||17 April 1957||The King's Ring |- |103662||13 November 1957||Lady Whistle Bait |- |103663||13 November 1957||Fandango Rock |- |103664||13 November 1957||Cool Papa |- |103665||13 November 1957||Teenage Strut |- |103681||15 November 1957||Two Good Guys |- |103682||15 November 1957||Tuxedo Junction |- |103683||15 November 1957||In a Little Spanish Town |- |103684||15 November 1957||Pushing |- |103746||22 November 1957||Split Level |- |103747||22 November 1957||A Stomping Good Time |- |103748||22 November 1957||Two Head |- |103749||22 November 1957||Campus Rumpus |}

==Bibliography== * ''Trumpet Isometrics'' * ''Leon Merian, The Man Behind The Horn'', Leon Merian with Bill Bridges, Diem Publishing Co, Bradenton, Florida, 2000, 287 pp.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/heraldtribune/obituary.aspx?n=leon-merian&pid=92775102 Obituary]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merian, Leon}} Category:1923 births Category:2007 deaths Category:American jazz trumpeters