Jack Sheldon was a jazz trumpeter and singer. After moving to Los Angeles in 1947 he joined the Air Force, playing in military bands. After leaving the Air Force he played with many leading West Coast jazz artists such as Benny Goodman, Art Pepper, Wardell Gray, Herb Geller, Jimmy Guiffre and Stan Kenton. He also worked with Frank Sinatra.
Sheldon became known for his humorous monologues between songs and was one of the great characters of jazz. His first solo album was 'Jack Sheldon Quintet' in 1955. In the 1960s he moved into TV, appearing as bandleader on 'The Merv Griffin Show' for 18 years and starred in the series 'Run Buddy Run'. He continued to perform live with the likes of Bill Berry and Benny Goodman.
He became known to a generation of US schoolchildren for the series 'Schoolhouse Rocks!', for which he sang the theme songs 'Conjunction Junction' and 'I'm Just a Bill'. He also played on the TV theme of 'The Munsters' and on the soundtracks of many films including on Tom Waits' songs for Francis Coppola's 'One from the Heart' (1981).
He recorded more than 20 solo albums including 'Stand By for Jack Sheldon', released in 1983. He also parodied himself with guest appearances on 'The Simpsons' and 'Family Guy'.
Sheldon died in December 2019 at the age of 88.
