Carmen Mastren (6 October 1913–31 March 1981), born Carmen Mastandrea, was an American jazz guitarist, banjoist and violinist born in Cohoes, New York. Mastren is most noteworthy for his work from 1936-1941 with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra as a guitarist.
Mastren's first professional work as a musician came in 1934 when he joined the Wingy Manone and Joe Marsala band. Mastren worked with a variety of musicians during his career, including Raymond...
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Carmen Mastren (6 October 1913–31 March 1981), born Carmen Mastandrea, was an American jazz guitarist, banjoist and violinist born in Cohoes, New York. Mastren is most noteworthy for his work from 1936-1941 with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra as a guitarist.
Mastren's first professional work as a musician came in 1934 when he joined the Wingy Manone and Joe Marsala band. Mastren worked with a variety of musicians during his career, including Raymond Scott, Ray McKinley and Mel Powell. In the 1940s Mastren recorded with the Sidney Bechet and Muggsy Spanier "Big Four". During World War II he played with the Glenn Miller Air Force Band. During the 1940s Mastren also worked as musical director and conductor for Morton Downey, and from 1954-1970 Mastren played for The Today Show and The Tonight Show on NBC. Mastren died at 68 from a heart attack on March 31, 1981 at his home in Valley Stream on Long Island, NY.
As bandleader
With Wingy Manone & Joe Marsala
With Dick Hyman And His Orchestra...
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