Stan Kenton(1911-1979)

Stan Kenton is regarded in the history of jazz as one of the pioneers of progressive jazz, with his orchestra and arranger Pete Rugolo. He started leading his own bands in the late 1930s and become famous in the mid-'40s with songs like "Painted Rhytmm", "Intermission Riff" and "Eager Beaver". He was leading his band until his death in 1979. In the 1970s he started his own record company, Creative Sounds, after finishing his contract with Capitol Records in the late 1960s.