Musician, Songwriter. Rotella began his career in his teens, playing clarinet and saxophone with many bands. During World War II, he was stationed in New Jersey with the Army Service Forces Band, and during visits to New York City, he studied with Simeon Bellison on clarinet, Joe Allard on saxophone and Victor Goldring on flute. After his military service, Rotella joined Raymond Scott's band in New York and later, the bands of Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. On a trip to California with Goodman, he decided to make Hollywood his home and worked as a studio woodwind player in the reed section with arranger Jerry Gray on Club 15 — a daily CBS Radio show that featured Bob Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, The Modernaires and Jo Stafford. As a member of ASCAP, he was instrumental in helping establish the Musicians Guild in the early 1960s. Rotella teamed with such well-known lyricists as Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cahn, Ray Gilbert, Sidney Clare, Abbey Lincoln, Franz Steininger and Jerry Gladstone. Over a 60 year career, he wrote more than 200 songs, some of which were recorded by Dean Martin, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney and Tony Bennett.
Musician, Songwriter. Rotella began his career in his teens, playing clarinet and saxophone with many bands. During World War II, he was stationed in New Jersey with the Army Service Forces Band, and during visits to New York City, he studied with Simeon Bellison on clarinet, Joe Allard on saxophone and Victor Goldring on flute. After his military service, Rotella joined Raymond Scott's band in New York and later, the bands of Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. On a trip to California with Goodman, he decided to make Hollywood his home and worked as a studio woodwind player in the reed section with arranger Jerry Gray on Club 15 — a daily CBS Radio show that featured Bob Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, The Modernaires and Jo Stafford. As a member of ASCAP, he was instrumental in helping establish the Musicians Guild in the early 1960s. Rotella teamed with such well-known lyricists as Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cahn, Ray Gilbert, Sidney Clare, Abbey Lincoln, Franz Steininger and Jerry Gladstone. Over a 60 year career, he wrote more than 200 songs, some of which were recorded by Dean Martin, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney and Tony Bennett.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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