Boniface Ferdinand Leonard DeFranco, also known as Buddy, was an American jazz clarinetist. He lived from February 17, 1923 to December 24, 2014. DeFranco started his professional career at a time when swing music and big bands, many of which were led clarinetists such as Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw were in decline. DeFranco was one of few jazz clarinet players who could adapt to the change. DeFranco was a member of Count Basie’s Septet for a year in 1950. In the 1950s, he led a small group that included guitarist Tal Farlow and pianist Sonny Clark. DeFranco recorded during this time for MGM Records and Norgran, while Verve was owned by Norman Granz. From 1966 to 1974, he was the bandleader of The Glenn Miller Orchestra under the name “The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra Directed by Buddy DeFranco”. He performed with Gene Krupa and Charlie Barnet as well as Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson, and also released many albums as a leader. From Wikipedia
