Joe Wilder, a trumpeter who died at the age of 92, was not only well-known to jazz fans, but was also admired by his fellow musicians. He was modest and dignified, was admired for his beautiful solo playing and his unfailing reliability as an ensemble player. He was always found in the best musical company, be it the New York Philharmonic or Count Basie’s. Joseph Benjamin Wilder was conceived in Colwyn, Pennsylvania on February 22, 1922. His father was a bass player and his older brother played the bass. Joe started playing the trumpet as a child and was the first person to appear on a radio talent program, Parisian Tailors Colored Kids of the Air. Mastbaum Technical High School was his music school. He had a long-held dream of becoming a professional musician in classical music. He recalled that in the 1930s there were no opportunities for black musicians in concert. In 1941, he joined Les Hite’s swing band. It was his first job as a professional trumpet player at the age of 19, but he was immediately promoted to lead trumpet. Dizzy Gillespie, 23, was second. He moved from Hite to Lionel Hampton’s band and was soon drafted into our armed forces. Although initially refusing to accept African-American recruits in the US Marine Corps, they eventually agreed to take 1,000 of them under wartime pressure. Joe Wilder was one such recruit and served as the assistant bandmaster for the Headquarters Band. After his 1946 release, he moved to Hampton and began a string of lead-trumpet gigs in the best of the declining number of big touring bands like Erskine Hawkins, Sam Donahue, and Jimmie Lunceford. A chance to join the Broadway revue Alive and Kicking in 1950 brought some relief from the constant touring. Even though the show was short-lived Wilder decided to stay in New York to support his family. He joined the pit orchestra of Guys and Dolls. Everything went smoothly until the show was moved to Washington, DC for a brief run. Wilder refused to work with the other black musicians, Benny Morton, and the residents musicians were fired. In the Fifties, theatrical managers were still nervous about hiring black musicians. Before Wilder was allowed to take over the role of lead trumpet on his 1955 show Silk Stockings, Cole Porter had to approve. Wilder was able to make a name for himself in New York after a six-month stint with Count Basie in 1953. He also became one of the first African American musicians to be offered a contract with a major US broadcasting station. From 1957 to 1974, he remained with ABC television and radio. Wilder had the chance to perform with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of conductors Pierre Boulez and Andre Kostelanetz in the 1960s. He was also a regular performer with the Symphony of the New World. It is surprising that Joe Wilder has only a few recordings. Wilder ‘n Wilder (Savoy 1956) and Jazz From Peter Gunn (Columbia 1959) are the two most well-known. His elegant and almost effortless style is evident in both. He was an expert at subtle obbligato. This can be found on occasional albums by Billie Holiday and Lena Horne as well as Tony Bennett. He was admired for his long life, contrasted with his unimpaired playing and his impeccable manners. He never wore a tie in public, did not raise his voice and never used strong language. He was once said to have been a victim of petty profanity by other musicians who offered to pay him money years ago. Warren Vache, his fellow trumpeter, said that Joe Wilder was “the only guy I’d ask to hold my money in the music industry.” Joe Wilder had been married twice. His second wife, two daughters from his second marital union and one son from his first marriage are his survivors. Joe Wilder, born February 22 1922, died May 9 2014 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk
