Sammy Nestico

At the age of 17, Sammy Nestico became the staff arranger for ABC radio station, WCAE, Pittsburgh, Pa. He received his B.S. degree in music education from Duquesne University, and has thrice been honored by the school with an honorary Doctor of Music degree, the Distinguished Alumni award, and in 1994, he was inducted into the "Century Club". North Texas State also presented him with
awards in 1978, 1979 and 1980. In 2005 he received an honorary doctor of music degree from Virignia's Shenandoah University.

As an educator, he has directed the music programs at Westinghouse Memorial High School, Wilmerding Pa., Pierce College, Los Angeles, Ca. and the University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.

Sammy joined the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. as staff arranger, and subsequently became the leader of the famous Airmen of Note. Following his 15 year tenure with the Air Force, he enlisted with the United States Marine Band in Washington, serving as chief arranger and director of the White House orchestra which performed for important judicial and congressional social functions during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.

In the years between 1970 and 1984, Sammy was the composer/arranger for the Count Basie orchestra. He directed the recording of ten albums of original music, four of which won Grammy awards. During the same period he was also engaged by Capitol Records as arranger/orchestrator, co-writing the equivalent of 63 albums for that organization.

Sammy has collaborated with Steve Allen, Stan Freberg, Bobby Troupe and Johnny Mercer in the songwriting field, and he has orchestrated for such major film studios as 20th Century Fox, Universal, Paramount, Warner Brothers, MGM and Columbia. He has also arranged and/or conducted albums for recording artists Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Sarah Vaughan, Toni Tennille, Patti Austin, Nancy Wilson, Pia Zadora, Paul Anka, Pat Boone, Ronnie Milsap, Daniel Rodriguez and others.

His television credits are numerous. As arranger, Sammy has written for specials by Julie Andrews, George Burns, Gene Kelly, Merv Griffin, Mary Tyler Moore, Goldie Hawn, The Grammy Awards, The Tonight Show, Perry Como, Toni Tennille, Liza Minelli, Bob Hope and many more. As Orchestrator he has worked on Mission Impossible, The Tony Randall Show, Medical Center, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hawaii Five-O, The Bob Newhart Show, Gomer Pyle, The Streets of San Fransisco, Mannix, Mayberry RFD, MOD Squad, The Bionic Woman, Cannon, Emergency, Columbo, Charlie’s Angels, The Lou Grant Show, M.A.S.H. and fifty others. Sammy has also written commercials for Anheuser Busch, Zenith, the Ford Motor Company, Mattel Toys, Pittsburgh Paints, the National Guard, Dodge, Remington Bank Americard and more. The United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C. sponsors a yearly award program entitled The Sammy Nestico Arranging Award.

He has been honored by ASMAC (American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers) and BBAA (Big Band Academy of America) and in 1998-1999 was a professor at the University of Georgia, teaching commercial orchestration and conducting the Studio Orchestra.

He is the author of the textbook The Complete Arranger, published in 1993, currently marketed throughout the world in four languages. His arrangements have been played by leading symphonies, and recorded by the Boston Pops and Andre Kostelanetz Orchestras; but he is most proud of the nearly 600 numbers published in the education field and played in the schools of America.

ALBUMS
25 YEARS IN THE MOONLIGHT - VERMONT JAZZ ENSEMBLE
30 GREATEST TRUMPET HITS - AL HIRT ORCHESTRA
50 YEARS of the AIRMEN OF NOTE - USAF AIRMEN OF NOTE
A TIME FOR LOVE - BILL WATROUS ORCHESRTA
A TRIBUTE TO BASIE - PETER O’GARA BIG BAND
AS YOU REMEMBER THEM VOL 1 - TIME LIFE/CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
AS YOU REMEMBER THEM VOL 2 - TIME LIFE/CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
AS YOU REMEMBER THEM VOL 3 - TIME LIFE/CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
AS YOU REMEMBER THEM VOL 4 - TIME LIFE/CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
AS YOU REMEMBER THEM VOL 5 - TIME LIFE/CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
AS YOU REMEMBER THEM VOL 6 - TIME LIFE/CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
AS YOU REMEMBER THEM VOL 7 - TIME LIFE/CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
AS YOU REMEMBER THEM VOL 8 - TIME LIFE/CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
BASIE AND BEYOND - QUINCY JONES / SAMMY NESTICO
BASIE BIG BAND - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
BASIE STRAIGHT AHEAD - BILL O’CONNELL ORCHESTRA
BASIE STRAIGHT AHEAD - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
BASIE! - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
BIG BAND FAVORITES - SAMMY NESTICO ORCHESTRA
BING AND BASIE - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
BUDDY PLAYS AND PLAYS - BUDDY RICH ORCHESTRA
CELEBRATE THE HORN! - INTERNATIONAL HORN SOCIETY
CLASSIC JAZZ - LOUIE BELLSON ORCHESTRA
DANCING - WARREN DURRETT ORCHESTRA
DARK ORCHID - SAMMY NESTICO ORCHESTRA
DAY IN, DAY OUT - FRANK STALLONE
DO IT AGAIN - TONI TENNILLE
DOIN’ BASIE’S THING - JAN MOLENAAR BIG BAND
ERIN GO BRAUGH (Air Force #1) - U.S. MARINE BAND
FAMOUS ARRANGERS - KENT STATE UNIV LAB BAND
FEELIN’ FREE - SINGERS UNLIMITED
FORGET TO REMEMBER - DENNIS BONO
GENERATIONS - AIR FORCE BAND OF THE WEST
GEORGE BENSON ANTHOLOGY - GEORGE BENSON
HAPPINESS IS - READERS DIGEST
HARRAD SUMMER - MOVIE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
HAVE A NICE DAY - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
HOLIDAY POPS - BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
HOT NIGHT IN PARIS, A - PHIL COLLINS
IT DON’T MEAN A THING - BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
IT’S MY TURN - MOVIE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
JAZZ ALIVE! - BILL O’CONNELL BIG BAND
KOSTELANITZ! - ANDRE KOSTELANITZ ORCHESTRA
L.A. IS MY LADY - FRANK SINATRA
LEGACY - USAF AIRMEN OF NOTE
LET’S DANCE - USAF AIRMEN OF NOTE
LIKE YOUNG - BUDDY GRECO
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY! - CHRISTINA AGUILARA
MILSAP SWINGS - RONNIE MILSAP
MORE THAN YOU KNOW - TONI TENNILLE
MUSIC FROM THE PARK - DISNEY STUDIOS
MY WAY - FRANK SINATRA
NICE ‘N EASY - SAMMY NESTICO ORCHESTRA
NIGHT AND DAY - BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
NIGHT AND DAY - PETERSON JAZZ COLLECTION
NIGHT FLIGHT - SAMMY NESTICO ORCHESTRA
NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - PAT BOONE
PABLO YEARS, THE - SARAH VAUGHAN
PETER MARSHALL, BOY SINGER - PETER MARSHALL
PIA TODAY - PIA ZADORA
PLAY IT AGAIN SAM! - FRANK CAPP ORCHESTRA
PLAY IT AGAIN SAMMY - BILL O’CONNELL ORCHESTRA
PRIME TIME - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
Q’S JOOK JOINT - QUINCY JONES
REFLECTIVE FLUTE - GORAN MARCUSSON
RUNNIN’ WILD - BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
SAMMY NESTICO For You To Play - DARK ORCHID
SANADA PLAYS SAMMY NESTICO - AL SANADA JAZZ ENSEMBLE
SEND IN THE CLOWNS - SARAH VAUGHAN
SPIRIT OF AMERICA - DANIEL RODRIGUEZ
STANDING OVATION - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
STRAIGHT AHEAD - PETERSON JAZZ COLLECTION
SWING ERA, THE CURTAIN CALL - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1944-1945 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE INTO THE 50’S - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE ENCORE - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE INTO THE 70’S - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE ONE MORE TIME - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE POST WAR - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1930-1936 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1936-1937 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1937-1938 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1938-1939 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1939-1940 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1940-1941 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1941-1942 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWING ERA, THE 1942-1944 - TIME/LIFE CAPITOL 3 ALBUM SET
SWINGIN BACK TO THE 40’S - RAY ANTHONY ORCHESTRA
SWINGIN’ TOGETHER - CLEVELAND JAZZ ORCHESTRA
SWINGPHONIC BAND AND ORCHESTRA - STAN KENTON ORCHESTRA
SWINGPHONIC SOUND, THE - NO. TEXAS STATE LAB BAND
THAT TODDLIN; TOWN - BILL O’CONNELL BIG BAND
THE BEST OF SARAH VAUGHAN - SARAH VAUGHAN
THE LEGACY OF SAMMY NESTICO - U.S. ARMY FIELD BAND
THE VOICES OF FREEDOM - U.S. NATIONAL GUARD BAND
THINGS ARE SWINGIN’ - TONI TENNILLE
THIS IS THE MOMENT - SAMMY NESTICO ORCHESTRA
THIS ONE’S FROM THE HEART - JAMES DARREN
TRIBUTE TO SAMMY NESTICO - PAUL’S BIG BAND (Germany)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - BILL O’CONNELL ORCHESTRA
WARM BREEZE - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
WINDJAMMERS SWINGPHONIC - HARRY CURRIE WIND ENSEMBLE
CROCODILE TEARS - PAT LONGO ORCHESTRA
CHAIN REACTION - PAT LONGO ORCHESTRA
THE BIG SOUND! - SI OLIVER ORCHESTRA
QUANTUM LEAP - PAUL GARCIA ORCHESTRA
THE HIGHER WE FLY - FALCONAIRES
BON VOYAGE - AIRMEN OF NOTE
BILLY MAY FOR PRESIDENT - PAT LONGO/FRANK SINATRA JR.

MOTION PICTURES
THE COLOR PURPLE
THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS
USED CARS
I WONDER WHO’S KILLING HER NOW?
HERO AT LARGE
ANALYZE THIS
CACTUS FLOWER
BLUE LAGOON
BUDDY SYSTEM
FIGHTER (FIGHTING CHANCE)
FRONT PAGE
HEART LIKE A WHEEL
HEAVEN CAN WAIT
IT’S MY TURN
JUST YOU AND ME KID
MILLION DOLLAR INFIELD
SILENT MOVIE
THAT OLD FEELING
WHOLLY MOSES
NEW ADVENTURES OF HEIDI
BIG BLACK PILL
MIRACLE OF KATHIE MILLER
STONESTREET
IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS
CHANDLER

TELEVISION
MAYBERRY RFD
ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, THE
THAT GIRL
GOMER PYLE
NEW PEOPLE, THE
STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE
HAWAII 5-0
EMERGENCY
LOU GRANT SHOW, THE
MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW,THE
CAPTAIN AND TENNILLE SHOW, THE
JOHN DAVIDSON SHOW, THE
DELLA REESE SHOW, THE
BOB NEWHART SHOW, THE
COLUMBO
CANNON
CHARLIE’S ANGELS
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
TONY RANDALL SHOW, THE
MEDICAL CENTER
MANNIX
MOD SQUAD
BIONIC WOMAN, THE
INCREDIBLE HULK, THE
M.A.S.H.
GEORGE BURNS SPECIAL
GOLDIE HAWN SPECIAL
LIZA MINELLI SPECIAL
‘MAMA’ CASS ELLIOT SPECIAL
JULIE ANDREWS SHOW
PERRY COMO SPECIAL
THE TONIGHT SHOW
THE OSCARS
THE GRAMMY AWARDS
THE EMMY AWARDS
THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
HARRY’S BATTLES (DICK VAN DYKE)

COMMERCIALS
ANHEUSER BUSCH (Busch, Michelob, Budweiser)
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
MATTEL TOYS
MARINA TISSUE
DODGE MOTOR CARS
BANK AMERICARD
ZENITH
CHRYSLER MOTOR CARS
PITTSBURGH PAINTS
THE NATIONAL GUARD
REMINGTON RAZOR

SONG WRITING COLLABORATIONS
JOHNNY MERCER
BOBBY TROUPE
STAN FREEBERG
STEVE ALLEN

ARRABGING CREDENTIALS
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND (12 years) 1950-1963
Staff Arranger (Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble)
Leader/Director Air Force Jazz Ensemble (Airmen of Note)
THE UNITED STATES MARINE BAND (5 years)
Chief Arranger
Leader/Director: White House Orchestra
(Serving under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson)
STAFF ARRANGER: ABC radio station WCAE, Pittsburgh PA.
(1943)
(1946-1951)
TEN ALBUMS - COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
(Winner of 4 Grammy Awards)
(1968 - 1984)
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocal - Phil Collins 1996
Best Instrumental Arrangement "KIJI Takes A Ride" 2002
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album "This Is The Moment" 2002
CAPITOL RECORDS: Co-Writer of 63 Albums
(1970 - 1975)
ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS - LOS ANGELES RAMS NFL Football Games
(2 years)
SERENADE IN BLUE
Arranger for the U.S. AIR FORCE WEEKLY Radio Shows
(5 years)

EDUCATION FIELD
B.S. DEGREE DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY
HONORARIUMS:
Doctor of Music - Duquesne University
Most Distinguished Alumni Award - Duquesne University
Century Club - Duquesne University
Jazz Lab Award 1978,1979,1980 North Texas State
Member Of The American Band Masters Association
ASMAC Award (American Society of Music Arrangers & Composers)
BBAA Award (Big Band Academy of America)
The Sammy Nestico Arranging Award (Sponsored Annually by the United States Air Force Band)
Authored Text Book The Complete Arranger (Published in English, German, Italian, and Japanese)
PROFESSOR - University of Georgia
(1998 - 1999)
PUBLISHER OF 600 COMPOSITIONS IN THE MUSIC EDUCATION FIELD
(1960 - present)