Ray Wetzel

A powerful screaming player, Ray Wetzel was greatly admired by his fellow trumpeters. He was the lead trumpeter with Woody Herman (1943-45) and Stan Kenton (1945-48) and invigorated many ensembles. Wetzel also recorded with the Metronome All-Stars (as part of Kenton's Orchestra), Vido Musso and Neal Hefti in 1947. He was married to bassist Bonnie Addleman in 1949. Wetzel was part of one of the all-time great trumpet sections; the 1949 Charlie Barnet Orchestra found him sitting next to Maynard Ferguson (who would soon be his successor with Kenton), Doc Severinsen and Rolf Ericson! Wetzel and his wife played with Tommy Dorsey for a few months, he was briefly back with Kenton (1951) and he was touring again with Dorsey when he was killed in an automobile accident; Ray Wetzel (who never led his own record date) was just 27. ~ Scott Yanow