Sam Trippe (born Nov. 19 1923, Endicott, NY, USA. d. Nov. 19 1959, Los Angeles, CA, USA), was a New York big band leader for a very brief time in the late 50's.
Samuel Tripiccio grew up near Rochester, N.Y. He married Dorothy Mae Haus in 1945 and lived in the village of Endicott, N.Y.
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| Sam & Family |
In 1958, Trippe formed a big band, which appeared on L.A.'s channel 2 during a U.S. Marine Corps musician’s variety show. The show, Dress Blues, was hosted by Lt. Bob Osterberg, who introduced singer Pam Garner backed by Trippe's orchestra. In May 1959, Trippe appeared on TV's channel 5 fronting a 17-piece band on a show called Larry Finley's Strictly Informal.
On June 3, 1959, Trippe recorded his first album with the band for the Sheen label, which was based in Monrovia, Ca. The album was Explosion! It was to be the start for a new promising band, formed by the young trumpeter Sam Trippe and his musician friends. "Sam Trippe and his Jazz Orchestra" had among its members Bill Smiley and Ray Caton. In this time of general disinterest in big bands Trippe found the help of two unselfish fans, who put all their money into the production of this album. Sadly, he would never hear the recording when it was released late that year.
One week after the recordings Sam Trippe, his wife Dorothy and his three children met with an accident on the Freeway. His youngest daughter Angele was the only one to survive. Suddenly all the hopes and expectations put into the band were ruined, the album was not released (until the following year), both producers lost their money and the orchestra broke up. The Trippes were heading home to the La Puente section of the city when their car was struck by Vincent Eria, who was heading toward downtown L.A. A second car driven by Richard Conger, 38, smashed into the rear of Trippe's car after it was stopped cold by Eria's vehicle.
On November 6, the Binghamton Press in New York picked up an Associated Press article reporting that four children were in the car. Three were the Trippes' children and the fourth was a friend of theirs. At the time, AP reported that Rosalia, 12, suffered light injuries, Frank, 14, was in fair condition with cuts, bruise and shock, while Angele 10, was in fair condition with a fractured right leg and internal injuries.
Frank Trippe's friend, Donald, 14, of La Puente, was listed in critical condition with a depressed skull fracture. Upon release from the hospital, Rosalia went to the La Puente home of her paternal grandfather, Frank. One can assume the other two Trippe children did the same when they were released. It's unclear whether Frank's friend, Donald, survived. The Los Angeles Times reported that after the accident, Eria was booked on suspicion of manslaughter.
Trippes friends and colleagues paid Sam their last tribute in a big "In Memorium Dance" at the Hollywood Palladium. The proceeds of the dance went as a stipend to Trippe's daughter and were used to pay the hospital bills.
Sam had many friends, his music and friendship were always valid and are best summed up in the words "Many lived longer, but few lived more". He literally gave his life for his music- he was on his way home from the last editing session for the album when he died. And he was so certain he had the "greatest band in the world".
(Info edited from jazzwax and album sleeve notes by Hans J. Mauerer)