Tony Fruscella

Tony Fruscella (February 4, 1927 in Orangeburg, New York– August 14, 1969 in New York City) was an American jazz trumpeter.

He died of liver cirrhosis in 1969.

Biography

Tony, and his sister Maria, grew up in Greenwich Village, part of Manhattan, New York. Fruscella played in an Army band early in his career. He served as a sideman for numerous jazz musicians in the 1950s, including Charlie Barnet, Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan (1954) and Stan Getz (1955). He played with Don Joseph later in the 1950s, but by the early 1960s his problems with drug abuse and alcoholism sidelined him from active performance.

He was married to singer Morgana King. The marriage ended in divorce after nine years. They had a daughter Graysan (1950–2008) and have a grandson, Morgan.

Tony Fruscella released only one record as a leader during his lifetime, 1955's I'll Be Seeing You (with Allen Eager and Danny Bank) on Atlantic Records. Several reissues of live material and studio outtakes followed his death.