Big-band leader Zentner dies at 82

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

In 1968 Si Zentner and his Orchestra burst into "Up a Lazy River" for the overture to the "Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana hotel.

Jazz fans in the audience would smile, for they knew that the Hoagy Carmichael classic was not part of the French-themed cancan show, but rather was a No. 1 instrumental hit for famed jazz trombonist Zentner nine years earlier.

"We only did it for a short time because we figured people knew who Si was and would appreciate it," said Maynard Sloate, the former Tropicana entertainment director.

"Si had a recognizable sound. While Tommy Dorsey was a mellow trombonist, Si was robust. He was unique and certainly well respected."

Si Zentner, who performed with the Les Brown, Jimmy Dorsey and MGM Studios orchestras and later as a bandleader and musician won two Grammy awards, died Sunday of leukemia at the University Medical Center. He was 82.

There will be no services for the Las Vegas resident of 35 years. Valley Memorial Cremation is handling the arrangements.

"Si had such a great command of the instrument -- he was a superb, talented man," said retired jazz saxophonist "Doc" Randal Grilott, who was performing with the Bob Crosby band when he met Zentner in 1939 and became his longtime friend.

"He could play everything from jazz to symphony. Si always had a desire to take his music to higher levels."

Chuck Diamond, a veteran musician and bassist for the Royal Dixie Jazz Band, said: "Si was an incredible musician whether in the studio or onstage. He was a champion guy."

Zentner moved to Las Vegas in 1965, the year Sloate hired him and his then-road orchestra to back up Mel Torme at the opening of the Tropicana's Blue Room, a 500-seat lounge.

Three years later Zentner was music director for the "Folies Bergere," a position he held until 1971. For the next 29 years he performed regularly in Las Vegas and worldwide.

"While trombonists were not known much for their longevity in the business, Si was an exception," said longtime Sun entertainment columnist Joe Delaney. "And he was even playing well to the end of his career."

Zentner last performed at a musicians convention at a Strip resort last July.

Born Simon H. Zentner on June 13, 1917, in New York City, Zentner started learning the violin at age 4 but soon switched to the trombone.

He began his professional career as a classical musician but in the late 1930s switched to more commercially popular music. In 1940 he joined Les Brown's band and a few years later became a member of the Jimmy Dorsey band.

From 1949 to 1955 Zentner was a member of the MGM band. His trombone can be heard in the classic motion pictures "A Star is Born" and "Singing in the Rain."

In 1957 Zentner started his band, which won 13 straight Downbeat Jazz polls. Zentner also was named 11 times to the annual Playboy Jazz Readers' Poll all-star band.

In 1959 Zentner got a contract with Liberty Records and that year released five albums -- "Thinking Man's Band," "Big Band Plays Big Hits," "Desafinado," "The Stripper and Other Big Band Hits" and "Up a Lazy River," which produced the hit. single.

During his career Zentner made 30 albums, including "Si Zentner & His Orchestra, Alive in Las Vegas" in 1992.

From the 1970s through the '90s Zentner and his band performed at major resorts, on cruise ships and at colleges, including UNLV and the Community College of Southern Nevada.

He was a member of the Masons and numerous music unions throughout the United States. He was a past vice president of the Musicians Local 369 in Las Vegas.

He was working on his memoirs at the time of his death, friends said.

Zentner is survived by a son, Howard Zentner of Sandpoint, Idaho; a daughter, Linda Berrow of Palmdale, Calif.; and five grandchildren.