Hank D'Amico (March 21, 1915 – December 2, 1965*), isn’t well remembered today but he was an outstanding American jazz clarinetist.
D'Amico was born in Rochester, NY and was raised in Buffalo, NY. He first played violin but later performed on clarinet in his high-school band.
His first professional engagements were with the bandleader Paul Specht (1936) and Red Norvo (1936–8). In 1938 he broadcast on radio with his own octet, and the following year returned briefly to Norvo’s band.
From April to May 1940 he recorded with the Bobby Byrne Orchestra, after which he was with Bob Crosby until July 1941, then led his own big band until 1942. After short periods with Les Brown (summer 1942) and Benny Goodman as well as broadcasting on CBS as a member of the big band from late 1942 into early 1943. From January 1945 he played with the Bobby Hackett Orchestra until February 1946.
He also found time to play with Miff Mole and Tommy Dorsey. He recorded with Louis Armstrong in 1950. He also spent ten years as a staff musician for ABC, and then played with Jack Teagarden in 1954 and Steve Allen in 1955.From that point he mostly worked with small groups, infrequently forming his own band.
One of his last works was with the Morey Field Trio when he played at the World’s Fair in 1964.
He died from cancer 2 December, 1965 in New York. (Sparce information edited from Wikipedia & Discogs)(*Other source gave 3rd December as date of death)