the front while he was playing. He was considered by his colleagues as being an exceptionally strong trumpeter with a well-developed range and tonal quality. For most of his recording career, he played a Besson Meha trumpet with a custom Bert Herrick mouthpiece. Occasionally, he played a Chicago Benge or a LeBlanc Gozzo model trumpet. In March 1955, Gozzo released his own album, Goz the Great!, signed with RCA Victor and played by "Conrad Gozzo and his Orchestra", directed by Billy May. Three of the twelve tracks were written together by Gozzo and May. The album was not particularly successful and was reviewed as mediocre. Death and legacy Gozzo died on October 8, 1964, of liver disease at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California. On November 15, 1964, a fundraising concert for his widow was held at the Hollywood Palladium, featuring singers Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and Dinah Shore. "A Trumpeter's Prayer" (1957) by Tutti Camarata originally featured Gozzo, and was performed on November 19, 1989, in New Britain for the 25th anniversary of his death. Jazz composer Sammy Nestico dedicated "Portrait of a Trumpet" to Gozzo. Discography With Georgie Auld In the Land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and His Orchestra (EmArcy, 1955) With Louis Bellson Skin Deep (Norgran, 1953) With Buddy Bregman Swinging Kicks (Verve, 1957) With Ray Brown Bass Hit! (Verve, 1957) With Hoagy Carmichael Hoagy Sings Carmichael (Pacific Jazz, 1956) With Benny Carter Aspects (United Artists, 1959) With Sammy Davis Jr It's All Over but the Swingin' (Decca, 1957) With Henry Mancini The Music from Peter Gunn (RCA Victor, 1959) More Music from Peter Gunn (RCA Victor, 1959) The Blues and the Beat (RCA Victor, 1960) Music from Mr. Lucky (RCA Victor, 1960) Uniquely Mancini (RCA Victor, 1963) With Shorty Rogers Cool and Crazy (RCA Victor, 1953) Shorty Rogers Courts the Count (RCA Victor, 1954) Portrait of Shorty (RCA Victor, 1957) With Pete Rugolo Introducing Pete Rugolo (Columbia, 1954) Adventures in Rhythm (Columbia, 1954) Rugolomania (Columbia, 1955) New Sounds by Pete Rugolo (Harmony, 1954–55, [1957]) References Footnotes Citations Bibliography External links Conrad Gozzo recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings. 1922 births 1964 deaths American trumpeters American male trumpeters 20th-century American musicians 20th-century trumpeters 20th-century American male musicians