Wendell Culley

American jazz trumpeter (also cornet, flugelhorn), born January 8, 1906 in Worcester, Massachusetts, died May 8, 1983 in Los Angeles, California. Culley began 1929 playing in Joe Steele And His Orchestra. He played locally in Boston, then moved to New York City in 1931, where he found early work playing with Horace Henderson and Cab Calloway. He then spent 11 years in the employ of Noble Sissle, recording extensively with him. Following this he played with Lionel Hampton (1944-1949), then worked again briefly with Sissle before playing in the Count Basie Orchestra from 1951 to 1959. During his career he participated in more than 200 recording sessions. After working with Basie, Culley retired from music, moved to the West Coast, and pursued a career in insurance.