Ted Nash (saxophonist, born 1922)

Nash was born in the Boston suburb of Somerville, Massachusetts. His goal was to become a classical flutist until he began playing saxophone in his early teens. His professional career began when he went on the road with a succession of dance bands. In 1944 he became tenor saxophonist for the Les Brown big band.[4] With Brown he played on the number one hits "Sentimental Journey" and "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time", both sung by Doris Day.[3]

In the late 1940s, after getting married, Nash settled in the Los Angeles and became part of the thriving Hollywood movie and television recording industry.[4] In 1956 he recorded with Paul Weston's orchestra the hit album Day by Day, with vocals by his former colleague and close friend, Doris Day.[2]

He was the featured soloist on The Music from Peter Gunn soundtrack, performing the alto saxophone solo on the theme and on the second bridge of "Dreamsville".[5] He was known for his mastery of the extreme altissimo register of the saxophone. He wrote Ted Nash's Studies in High Harmonics for Tenor and Alto Saxophone published in 1946.[6]

Through the 1950s and 1960s he worked as a sideman for June Christy, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Nancy Wilson. During the 1970s he worked with Judy Collins and Quincy Jones. He retired in the 1980s.[3]