How you are missed! Thank you for the music and the legacy.
STARK COUNTY
2 legends: Massillon Tiger Swing Band to perform Sammy Nestico. Original piece by Amy Knapp, Massillon Independent, Published August 18, 2023
KEY POINTS
• The Massillon Tiger Swing Band will perform a piece composed by Sammy Nestico for a documentary about the composer.
• The band will debut the song - "We Can Do It (if we try) - during the halftime show of the Tigers' season opener on Friday.
• The show - A salute to Nestico - will include three songs, including "88 Basie Street" and "Good News."
Massillon Tiger Swing Band Director, Jason Neel
MASSILLON – Sammy Nestico's musical career spanned more than seven decades performing, composing and arranging music. While he performed with a number of high-profile musicians and ensembles, he was best known for his arrangements for the Count Basie Orchestra. He also arranged music for the U.S. Air Force Band and U.S. Marine Band. He has written commercial jingles and music for TV and movies; wrote arrangements for school students and advocated for young musicians; and worked with a variety of legendary artists, including Phil Collins, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Nestico also had a relationship with Massillon. The Massillon Tiger Swing Band will debut an original Nestico composition during today's halftime performance at the Tigers' season opener against Valdosta (Georgia), which is at 7 p.m. at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The song was written for a documentary about Nestico's life and the band also will record the song for the film.
Connecting the dots from Sammy Nestico to Tiger Swing Band
So how did a famous American composer get connected with the City of Champions?
Film producer diane estelle Vicari is creating a documentary called "The Shadow Man" about Nestico. She worked with the Massillon Museum years ago as part of the Nelly Toll exhibit and is creating a separate documentary to tell the story of Toll and her mother, who were forced into hiding from Nazis occupying Poland in 1943. Museum Director Alexandra Nicholis Coons and Vicari cultivated a friendship. During a conversation with Vicari, she shared stories about Nestico, including how he began painting later in life. After a talk at the museum was canceled due to the pandemic, Vicari was invited to do a Facebook Live discussion with the museum in 2020 and Nestico appeared as a surprise guest. "It was his very first Zoom he did," Nicholis Coon said. "It might have been his last live interview or one of his last." Nestico died Jan. 17, 2021, at the age of 96.
'Would it not be fantastic if we see if the Massillon Tiger Swing Band could play the song?'
During their discussions about Nestico, Vicari shared that he was still composing, including an arrangement he wrote for a marching band. He decided he needed to write "a young, happy swinging march," Vicari told her friend. He composed the song "We Can Do It (if we try)." It was earmarked to run with the credits of the film. "She's telling me all this and I am like, 'Wait a second. Would it not be fantastic if we see if the Massillon Tiger Swing Band could play the song?'" Nicholis Coon said. Working together with the film director and Nestico, who viewed videos of the band and gave his blessing to allow them to play his original work, Nicholis Coon facilitated a three-way call with Swing Band Director Jason Neel. Thrilled to be working with the well-known composer, Neel had the idea to dedicate one of the band's halftime shows to Nestico.
"This was born out of an existing relationship," Nicholis Coon said. "It was made out of making connections and I love to do that. The opportunity presented itself and the pieces fit. It's one of those special things. Those students and their performance will be immortalized in that film and be the first ones to perform this song."
Alexandra Nicholis Coons: 'I saw the potential to join two legendary forces'
Nestico is top tier, Tiger Swing Band assistant director Jen Smithhisler said. She grew up playing his works and continues to include them as selections for her jazz band students. "It's really cool. Our kids are familiar with his arrangements," she said. Besides his work with many well-known musicians, Nestico had a love for education, she said. "He said you don't get these amazing ensembles without starting somewhere," Smithhisler said. "You have to write good music for kids to fall in love with music." Since the first contact with Nestico, Neel has been working to create a halftime show to salute Nestico. At today's halftime performance, the Swing Band will take the field and perform three of Nestico's pieces, including the song written for the documentary. The opener is "Good News" followed by "88 Basie Street." They will close the show with "We Can Do It (if we try)." Vicari will join a film crew at the game to document the performance. Footage will be used in the film, Nicholis Coon said. The museum is underwriting the film crew, with Nicholis Coon adding they see value in a project not only remembering Nestico but also documenting the band. Before his death, Nestico had plans to visit the students. The band will head to a local recording studio to record the song for the film, she added. "I saw the potential to join two legendary forces — celebrating Massillon’s unique marching band tradition, while paying tribute to an incredible American composer," Nicholis Coon said.
Pencil Portrait by Mort Kuff
A PERSONAL ANECDOTE
It was 1968 and I was 15 years old. I lived in Chicago and went to a Chicago Public High School. They had a very weak music program and for sure no “big band” whatsoever.
My dad was a huge Benny Goodman fan so at 10 years old I started playing clarinet…but at 15 I wanted to play saxophone. I had heard the Basie-Straight Ahead album and bought myself a copy. I was given an old beat up tenor to fool around with. I had no concept of how to read a big band chart and lessons I jazz were out of the question financially. By this time I had been teaching myself clarinet for 4 years. I’ve never had a lesson.
I saw on the album that the publisher was Banes Music. After trying the various sheet music stores in an attempt to get the Tenor parts to the album I learned that they didn’t exist in print individually. So, I wrote a letter to Banes asking them where I could get the tenor parts as I was teaching myself and I wanted to play with the record.
I don’t hear anything for a few months so I figured nothing would come of my letter. One day a package comes for me. I open it and a note said enclosed are the tenor parts for my music. I have marked them as to where they are different from the recordings. I hope this helps you on your way…here’s my phone number…please call me and let me know how you are doing! Good luck…Sammy Nestico…
I called him and we talked for a long time…subsequently he sent me a copy and the tenor parts to Have a Nice Day and later a promo record of Basie Big Band and his own album Dark Orchid.
We stayed in touch for a while. I wound up with a career in music for 47 years in Chicago www.michaellerich.com. I have retired from that end of the business and now I have a jazz group. I was lucky enough to tell Mr. Nestico some 30 years later of my career and how his kindness did send me on my way…
He was truly a wonderful man and indeed his memory is a blessing for the world!
Michael Lerich
A PERSONAL NOTE FROM SAMMY’S FILMMAKER
From the age of 16, he lived for music. Sammy loved success stories - "the ones that tell us about individuals who never realized that what they were trying to do was impossible."
No matter how strong the winds of life may have blown his way at times, he never veered from music. He also never completely realized until the last year of his life what he had accomplished and how many lives he had touched worldwide with his dream of music.
Three nights before his passing, Sammy asked me: " de, who wrote Body and Soul?" After a quick google search and my response, he proceeded to tell me about every recording of this song since the late 1930's and quickly added: "but I like my versions of it the best, " as he began humming Body and Soul.
After spending 20 years documenting this Maestro's life, I realize in that moment that no matter the years I had spent with him, I would never know the depth of his mastery of music.
What I learned from this man is that music was his sunlight and his moon, music kept the rhythm of his heartbeat, and mostly in the end all he ever desired was to share his music with the world.
From the moment I focused my camera on him, that late summer of 2001 at Capitol Studios, I bared witness to the essence of his soul and his purpose on this earth. From that first downbeat, I wanted to share those four recording days of This is the Moment with the rest of the world.
This 2024, Sammy would have been 100 years old. It is also the 100th anniversary of a benchmark when jazz began to be seen as a serious musical form and becoming increasingly popular all over America. 2024 is the perfect year to bring Sammy Nestico's story to the world.
Sammy entrusted me with his legacy and before he passed away, I promised him that I would share it with the world.
I am at the last stretch of filmmaking and I need to hire the best editor to bring his film home.
With your help, we can do it and there are so many ways that you can make this happen.
Join his website NEVER LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAMS, The Sammy Nestico story
Accept our invitation to join his Facebook Page
Join his Instagram
Share his stories with your Circles. Talk about Sammy and keep on playin' to keep his music alive.
If you can or know someone who can, please consider making a tax-deductible donation
by making a purchase in his Music Gift Shop.
One of our Co-Executive Producers and generous supporter will match dollar for dollar up to $5,000.
Thank you, diane estelle Vicari
February 6th, 2022 - Family, Friends and Colleagues of Sammy gathered on what would have been his 98th Birthday, to celebrate a life well lived. Hosted by Mark Wallengren, guests included Sammy’s wife Shirley Nestico, Sammy’s brother Paul Nistico, Charlie Almeida, one of Sammy’s oldest friend, colleague and friend Toni Tennille, the legendary Gene “Cip” Cipriano, Producer Gregg Field, recording engineer and executive producer Tommy Vicari, Gordon Goodwin of the Big Phat Band, arranger and Sammy’s assistant Peter Schueller, Sammy’s documentarian diane estelle Vicari, and many more colleagues who sent pre-recorded messages. They came to share anecdotes and mostly stories of how all of their lives have been touched by Sammy.
Sammy Nestico, December 2020, Carlsbad, CA
FISCAL SPONSOR - 501(c)3
Thursday, July 29, 2021
2001 is a year to remember. My first co-directed and produced independent feature film opened theatrically. SUGIHARA: Conspiracy of Kindness is the story of Japanese Consul General Chiune Sempo Sugihara, who during World War II saved the lives of thousands against his government’s orders. I was finally going to share this inspiring story of how “one man can make a difference” with a live audience. That is, until I received an invitation from scoring and recording mixer Tommy Vicari. READ FULL ARTICLE BELOW
Sammy Nestico, January 13, 2021, Carlsbad, CA
By GEORGE VARGA
JAN. 19, 2021
Making timeless music was a lifelong calling throughout the eight-decade career of acclaimed composer and arranger Sammy Nestico. His music elevated albums by artists as varied as the Count Basie Orchestra, Michael Bublé, Barbra Streisand, Phil Collins, Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich and Bing Crosby, and also contributed to the scores for “The Color Purple,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Heaven Can Wait,” “Hawaii Five-O” and dozens of other films and TV shows.
A longtime Carlsbad resident, Nestico remained musically active until shortly before he began receiving hospice care in October at his home. The nine-time Grammy Award-nominee passed away in his sleep there Sunday morning.
He died of natural causes, according to his second wife, Shirley Nestico. He was 96.
“Sammy was always a happy and humble man,” Shirley Nestico said. “My children couldn’t believe that someone who was so famous was so down-to-earth.”
Nestico had congestive heart issues, according to Shirley Nestico and Los Angeles filmmaker Diane Estelle Vicari, who has spent the past 20 years working on a nearly completed documentary, “SHADOW MAN: The Sammy Nestico Story.”
His final album is due out in May. Titled “Every Star Above,” it’s a Billie Holiday tribute album Nestico made in late 2019 with veteran country-music singer Mandy Barnett as a reimagining of Holiday’s 1958 album, “Lady in Satin.”
“I’m grateful to have worked with one of the greatest arrangers of all times, maybe the last of the greatest,” Barnett said Tuesday from her Nashville home.
“Sammy was not able to attend the recording sessions for ‘Every Star Above’ in person. But he watched and listened online, in real time, and the orchestra gave him a standing ovation. Sammy was so happy, he cried. Every player in that orchestra was thrilled and so excited to be playing Sammy’s charts. I think they would have paid to be there.”
A live visit with Massillon Museum, Ohio, myself and my documentarian.
Nearly 100 years ago, this country witness the birth of the Blues & The Swing Era
Working with Q has always been an exhilarating musical experience. His passion for the music, and relaxed treatment of the musicians is inspirational. We shared so much. We are both Count Basie’s alumni and both very fond of the old man! On his 87th Birthday, I wish him GRACE & BEAUTY, today and always and promise that I wil always: “leave space for God to enter the room.”
I love you Q! ~~ Sam.
At Capitol Records, Hollywood, BASIE & BEYOND’s recording, 2000.
On his 96th Birthday, at the end of a long day, Sammy is grateful to be released from the hospital and enjoys the company of his wife Shirley & diane estelle watching the sunset by the ocean.
From the roaring swinging 1920's to our 2020's, One Man's dream is fulfilled and a world is changed forever, "one note at the time". For more then sixty years, Maestro Sammy Nestico lived in the shadows of some of the greatest musical icons of the 20th century, until he decided to stand in his own light and live his American Dream! If he can do it, so can we!
From our home, to your home, our heartfelt wishes for happy holidays and the best of 2020.
My Documentarian, diane estelle Vicari, was recently told by someone in her industry that the definition of a “master” is someone who you should not have to google his/her name. Therefore, I do not meet the criteria of a “master” in their world. I’ve always been a humble man and never thought of myself as someone special but I think that after 80 years in music, I may have mastered a few things. One of her supporters, R.M., came up with the idea of creating a 5 min. music mashup that would briefly shine some light on my music without having to google it.
diane estelle selected tunes from my library and her editorial team, Tommy Vicari and Sam Solino, masterfully put together this music mashup. Oh! I CAN’T stop listening to it as it touches on all the different genre I have worked with over these last 80 years, all in 5 minutes. Brilliant!
Enjoy!
THE MUSIC SELECTION:
Where is Love - Nestico Orchestra, Lionel Bart
a Swingphonic Collection (Overture) - SWR Big Band and The Bremen Symphony Orchestra
Come Rain or Come Shine - Barbara Streisand, Harold Arlen
Cool Joe, Mean Joe (Killer Joe) - Quincy Jones, Queen Latifah, Charlie Wilson
Fly Me to The Moon - Little Children Movie, Bart Howard
Good Swing Wenceslas - Count Basie Orchestra
Kiji Takes a Ride - Sergei Prokofiev
Ya Gotta Try (Tonight Show)- Buddy Rich
Swinging of the Orient Express - Sammy Nestico, Fenwood Music, ASCAP
Gentle on My Mind - Bing Crosby, John Hartford (Bing n Basie)
Mack The Knife - Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht
Cherokee - Boston pops orchestra, Ray Noble, John Williams
It’s My Turn - Michael Masser, Pat Williams
Satin Doll - James Darren, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn
This is the Moment - Sammy Nestico, Fenwood Music, ASCAP
If I Should Lose You - Frank Sinatra
Vaquero - Sammy Nestico
How High the Moon - Toni Tennille, Morgan Lewis
Do Nothin Till You Hear from Me- Phil Collins, Quincy Jones, Duke Ellington
Smile - Charlie Chaplin, Sammy Nestico
Satin n Glass - Sammy Nestico, SWR Big Band
The Marne Hymn, Apotheosis - "The President's Own" United States Marine Band
A Swingphonic Collection (A Night in Tunisia) - SWR Big Band and The Bremen Symphony Orchestra
Good Swing Wenceslas - Count Basie Orchestra
Come Rain or Come Shine - Barbara Streisand, Harold Arlen
Fly Me to the Moon - Little Children Movie, Bart Howard
Sammy For Friends #7 - “Swingin’ on the Orient Express
At 70 - I decided to produce my own record - the glitch was that not one record company would invest in an artist of my age! So for 7 years, I saved all that I could and at the age of 77, the BEST musicians in town joined me for the recording of “This is The Moment” at Capitol Studios, where I spent many years working for others. No other then engineer Tommy Vicari, whom I had just worked with for the very first time on the BASIE & BEYOND, Quincy Jones & Sammy Nestico Orchestra session recorded and mixed the album.
I always wanted to write a piece with the wind and colors of the Orient. Of course, I wanted it to swing! SWINGING ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS was the result. A Koto, bamboo flutes, a gong, electric wind instrument and a MELODY in 4th will put a smile on your face!
At 86, Sammy received his third Grammy Nomination (2010) with the SWR Big Band for "Fun Time". As we all knew that it was a race against the machine, all that love and appreciate Sammy decided to celebrate him. For that occasion, Pepi's Fine Jewelry presented him with the exclusively designed "Sammy’s Love Note". Available now under Rewards.