If you grew up watching television during the 1960s and 1970s, you have no doubt heard the arranging style of Sammy Nestico. His musical arrangements can still be heard on reruns of popular shows during the era of television variety shows. Sammy has arranged music for all kinds of bands, but it is the big band that he is most remembered for more than any other type of music.
Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sammy Nestico first got a taste of music by playing the trombone in the David B Oliver high school band. He became an avid practitioner, so much so that his mother did the opposite of what most mothers tell their children: “stop practicing and go play!”
Shortly after his adoption of the trombone as his musical instrument of choice, Sammy began arranging music for a small band in high school. These early years would help shape a unique style, one that has become one of the most recognized styles in big band arranging circles.
Sammy’s arranging style is a combination of simplicity and economy. The melody is of the utmost importance in all arrangements. The importance of the melody combined with a strange sense of “balance” between the sections makes Sammy’s big band arrangements not only fun to listen to, but also fun to play. His sense of harmony is not too complex and always fits the character of each and every big band composition or arrangement.
In 1946, Sammy auditioned for trombonist and staff arranger with the newly formed group, United States Airmen of Note. As the ensemble’s highly-skilled first arranger, Sammy honed his writing style by producing dozens upon dozens of big band arrangements for the group.
During the 1960s, Sammy collaborated on recordings with the Count Basie Band. These recording sessions produced some of the most swinging and most performed big band charts of all time. Lists like “Basie Straight Ahead” and “The Queen Bee” continue to be performed by great bands from high schools and colleges around the world. Sammy has even written that working with Bill “Count” Basie was the musical and personal highlight of his career.
Sammy Nestico continues to compose and arrange big band music to this day. Without a doubt, he will be remembered as one of the quintessential big band arrangers of the 20th century. For more information on Sammy Nestico’s style of musical arranging, see his own complete book on arranging, The Complete Arranger.
