Uan Rasey, 'Chinatown' and 'Taxi Driver' Trumpeter, Dies at 90
- Posted on Oct 3rd 2011 2:30PM by Theo Spielberg
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Legendary trumpeter Uan Rasey, whose brassy solos can be heard in some of Hollywood's greatest films -- from 'Chinatown' to 'An American in Paris' to 'Taxi Driver' -- died from complications due to heart failure Sept. 26, at Kaiser Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. He was 90 years old.
Born in Glasgow, Montana, much of the music he enjoyed came to him via national radio broadcasts that were able to reach his remote location in Eastern Montana. After being struck with Polio, Rasey convalesced with trumpet in hand. In 1937 his family moved to Los Angeles, Calif. where he began his professional music career, sitting in with Sonny Dunham, Bob Crosby, and other big bands of the era. In 1949 he became first trumpet with the MGM film studio orchestra, and began his Hollywood career in earnest. He played on as many as 3,000 films and television shows throughout his career, Variety reports.
Rasey was widely considered to be one of the most talented musicians in Hollywood history, and his virtuosity can be heard in films like 'Ben Hur,' 'Spartacus,' 'Singin' in the Rain,' 'West Side Story,' and 'My Fair Lady' and other Golden Age classics. Rasey also lent his talents to many of the '50s and '60s greatest recording artists including Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, and the Monkees.
He is survived by three children and three grandchildren.
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Born in Glasgow, Montana, much of the music he enjoyed came to him via national radio broadcasts that were able to reach his remote location in Eastern Montana. After being struck with Polio, Rasey convalesced with trumpet in hand. In 1937 his family moved to Los Angeles, Calif. where he began his professional music career, sitting in with Sonny Dunham, Bob Crosby, and other big bands of the era. In 1949 he became first trumpet with the MGM film studio orchestra, and began his Hollywood career in earnest. He played on as many as 3,000 films and television shows throughout his career, Variety reports.
Rasey was widely considered to be one of the most talented musicians in Hollywood history, and his virtuosity can be heard in films like 'Ben Hur,' 'Spartacus,' 'Singin' in the Rain,' 'West Side Story,' and 'My Fair Lady' and other Golden Age classics. Rasey also lent his talents to many of the '50s and '60s greatest recording artists including Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, and the Monkees.
He is survived by three children and three grandchildren.
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