Arbello, Fernando
Arbello, Fernando
Arbello, Fernando, jazz trombonist; b. Ponce, P.R., May 30, 1907; d. San Juan, PR., July 26, 1970. Arbello began playing trombone at age 12 and later played in his high school band and a local orchestra. He moved to N.Y. in the mid–1920s, where he worked with Earle Howard (1927), Wilbur De Paris (1928), and June Clark (1929 and 1930). He also worked briefly with Claude Hopkins and Bingie Madison, then regularly with Hopkins from 1931–34. Arbello spent several months with Chick Webb in 1934–35, and was with Fletcher Henderson for most of 1936–37, playing briefly with Lucky Millinder late in 1936. During the late 1930s he played with Billy Hicks, Millinder, Edgar Hayes, Fats Waller, Hopkins, and Benny Carter. Arbello was with The Zutty Singleton Sextet from January to March 1940, led his own band, then rejoined Henderson early in 1941. Arbello later joined Marty Marsala and played with Jimmie Lunceford from 1942 until 1946 (except for a brief stint with Bernie Mann in N.Y. in early 1945). He led his own band throughout the 1950s, worked with Rex Stewart in Boston in 1953, and took part in the Fletcher Henderson reunion in 1957. Arbello was with Machito beginning in 1960 and moved back to PR. in the late 1960s. He led another band of his own at the Hotel San Juan in 1969 and died a year later.
—John Chilton, Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter