Death of US horn legend, 101
RIPThe formidable Vincent DeRosa, who played first horn in Hollywwod for Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin, Alfred Newman, and John Williams, is reported to have died today at a formidable age.
John Williams called him ‘one of the greatest instrumentalists of his generation.’ His tone was utterly distinctive and unmistakable.
He received a Grammy Nomination for Best Classical Performance in 1962, for a Bach album.
Just fabulous. These Hollywood studio players are so fantastic. He could probably sightread the first horn part in Schumann’s Konzertstuck. In the meantime the NYPO has been looking for a principal horn for ages and ages…………..
Let’s change that to “some Hollywood studio players.” I actually lived there and did that for a bit. Although there are some very nice, talented “veterans” around, there are many subpar players there with big attitudes. Since a lot of the studio work is no longer done in LA, that frustration simply fuels their arrogance. It isn’t a good environment for anyone.
It would be nice to keep the conversation on track about Vince and his legacy rather than airing grievances.
It is always fun to hear a horn section of mere mortals “attempt” the famous upward “scoop” in Mancini’s Peter Gunn theme. Maybe that was not a golden age of television but there were some great TV themes back then, played by some marvelous studio musicians.
Mr. DeRosa had a huge influence on my generation of horn players both primary and secondary. Primary through his own playing which influenced some of us to choose the horn as the instrument we desired to play and how to sound on it and secondarily as the influence he had on the entire Hollywood horn scene. There was a unanimity of approach to horn throughout the studios that was greatly influenced by him. The Bach album you mention is remarkable to horn players for the ease he displays while playing very difficult music. He and Dennis Brain were both able to use air in a very unique way that really has not been duplicated. One may hear it in the octave slur early in the “Rising Sun” solo the you have above. I’m very sorry to hear of his passing. He deserved a couple hundred years of life.
Hi. If you are the Philip Meyers who was former principal horn in NY as well as a horn player in the Pittsburgh Symphony, want you to know I have always admired your horn playing. I was blessed to have grown up in Pittsburgh and study and play music with a number of wonderful musicians. Many fine horn players, like yourself, were trained at Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Tech). Dale Clevenger and Howard Wall, who was a fellow Pittsburgh Public School’s musician.
Your nice compliment to Philip Myers would have been even nicer if you had spent some time checking the correct spelling of Mr Myers’ surname.
Sad news indeed even though his legend is strong and firmly cemented in history. Rest in peace.
https://www.1m1hollywoodhorns.com/
Amazing talent. Played on many Nelson Riddle recordings.
Oh no!! The icon is now left to the heavenly horn choir! RIP Vince DeRosa and thank you for all your phenomenal legacy which will be remain forever!
While growing up in the late ’50’s and ’60’s, discussion of favorite horn players normally centered on orchestral players. Not for me. Vince DeRosa and John Barrows were my two heroes. Neither one made their careers with orchestra, but they were heard more often than people realized. I would come home from high school and play along to Billy May’s Big Fat Brass and Henry Mancini’s Peter Gunn every day. I was able to meet Vince at a horn symposium in the early 2000’s and it was a thrill of a lifetime. His was a unique and instantly recognizable voice.
The first 1 minute 25 seconds of the track are beautiful! And then the saxophone comes in….
I love the way he plays the tune slightly behind the beat while the opera like accompaniment plays exactly in time. Impossible to notate. I wonder if he was asked to play it that way or if he just did it naturally?
Such an amazing ring in his sound. Gorgeous.
This is a question for the horn aficionados out there. I’ve been told that Vince DeRosa frequently used a Wagner tuba (which takes a horn mouthpiece). Any truth in that?