Dee Barton


Dewells "Dee" Barton Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, big band drummer, and prolific composer for big band and motion pictures. He is best known for his association with the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

Life

Early years

Dee Barton was born in Houston, Mississippi in 1937 and eventually the family moved to Starkville, Mississippi in 1941. His father became the band director at Starkville High School. "My dad brought home an old E flat mellophone and at the age of three I figured out the fingerings on it," said Barton. Barton later took up the trombone. He practiced in the school band room for 10 hours a day, and was able to help when his father was ill. Barton was able to take over his father's work and teach all of his classes for two years to keep the Starkville High School job running.
Barton went onto attended Murray State University and after that North Texas State University where he was a member of the famed One O'Clock Lab Band under Gene Hall and Leon Breeden. In 1957 Barton already had a reputation and wanted to study composition at North Texas State University but had no money. Dr. Gene Hall, head of the department of music, arranged a full scholarship for Barton.

Professional work and Stan Kenton

Barton early on had an ambition to join the Stan Kenton Orchestra. He first met Kenton backstage at a concert in 1953 when Barton was 15. "Stan was very strange in one sense," said Barton. "He never forgot the name of anybody I ever saw him meet. I didn't see him until two years later when I'd grown some. So I was surprised when he called me by name."
Determined then to get away from Mississippi, Barton went on the road in 1956 with Ralph Marterie's big band. "He was not a kind man, and it was a most unpleasant experience that almost turned me against the road altogether." He left the band in New York three weeks later and replaced an absent trombonist in the Maynard Ferguson Big Band. He also worked with the Charlie Spivak band during that time.
While Barton was attending school, Stan Kenton came to teach at a music clinic at North Texas State University in August 1959. Kenton became very familiar with Barton's playing and writing abilities. In 1961, at the age of 23, Barton joined Kenton's orchestra in the trombone section. His compositions Waltz of the Prophets and Turtle Talk were recorded as part of Kenton's Grammy award-winning album Adventures in Jazz. He served on three other major Capitol releases in the trombone section. Barton also acted as a substitute for Kenton's drummer on occasion and in June 1962 he gave up a trombone chair and became the band's drummer recording on Adventures in Time in September 1962, as well as four subsequent Kenton releases. He eventually left the band in late 1963 to pursue a wider music career in Los Angeles. He returned for short tours in 1967 worked with Kenton as drummer and arranger on the album The World We Know and Finian's Rainbow. The highlight of Barton's tenure with Kenton came on the Capitol release Stan Kenton Conducts the Jazz Compositions of Dee Barton where he is showcased as both composer and drummer.

Clint Eastwood and Los Angeles

Barton moved to Los Angeles and eventually wrote the scores for more than 50 Hollywood films. In his spare time he ran a big band that played regularly at Donte's, a North Hollywood night-club. It was there Clint Eastwood heard Barton's music, eventually commissioning him to write the scores for the films Play Misty For Me, High Plains Drifter, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and Every Which Way But Loose. Barton also contributed to the writing for five other Eastwood films, including Dirty Harry and Magnum Force. Barton worked as a music consultant for Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, John Lennon and others. He helped Jimmy Webb with the composition of MacArthur Park and later wrote an arrangement of the tune for Stan Kenton.

Back to the Mid-South: Memphis TN, Jackson MS

In 1973 Barton moved to Memphis TN to become musical director for the William B. Tanner Company. He worked there until 1988 when he left to work independently and teach seminars at schools. His 1996 album, The Dallas Jazz Orchestra Plays Dee Barton, was nominated for a Grammy. He continued for live music performances and in films mainly with London Symphony Orchestra and in Europe.
In 1998 Barton moved to Brandon, Mississippi and he became composer in residence at Jackson State University. "I teach orchestration, composition and advanced theory. Working with kids is what I really enjoy. They're hungry for somebody that has done it, rather than somebody that has gone to school all their life."

Personal life

Barton's first marriage was to Jeri Catheryne Robinson. They had two sons, DeWells Barton III and Shannon Barton. He has three grandchildren, DeWells Barton III's children: Cole Barton and Haley Barton, and Shannon Barton's child: Jake Barton His second wife was Jane E. Earl. Dee's brother, William D. "Bill" Barton, was a trombonist, pianist, arranger and band leader. He died December 8, 2007. Barton died in Brandon, Mississippi on December 3, 2001 at the age of 64.

Selected filmography

Clint Eastwood
Other studios
Earl Owensby Studios
As sideman
As trombonist with Stan Kenton
As drummer with Stan Kenton
Soley as arranger for Stan Kenton
As arranger