Buzz Brauner

Born - March 1, 1930 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Died - Jan. 31, 2001 of complications of Parkinsons' disease in Westwood, N.J.
Instruments Played
Saxophones: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass
Flutes: flute, alto flute, bass flute, piccolo
Clarinets: B flat, E flat, bass clarinet
Oboe and English horn
Recorders: sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, bass
Ocarinas
Teachers
Lew Arfine on saxophone
Harold Bennett on flute (Principal flutist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra)
Don Ashworth on oboe and English horn (Tonight Show with Johnny Carson)
In 1945 Buzz joined Local 802 of AFM at the age of 15 by lying about his age. His first job was with the Art Mooney orchestra. He was on the original "I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover" recording. Other orchestras he played with were Ted Lewis, Richard Maltby, Buddy Morrow. Around 1952 he joined Jimmy Dorsey's band as jazz tenor saxophonist. In 1954 he was drafted into the army and served until 1956 in Special Services (19th Army Band at Fort Dix.) He appeared on Soldier Parade with Arlene Francis and was director of the 19th Army Dance Band from Feb. 1955 until Jan. 1956. He then rejoined Jimmy Dorsey who was back with his brother Tommy and stayed with the band until Tommy and then Jimmy died. He appeared on the Dorsey Brothers ‘Stage Show’ the evening Elvis Presley made his television debut. All the guys in the band thought this kid would never make it.
Around 1959 he came off the road and worked at the Roxy Theater in New York. Around the same period he worked for Merv Griffin and began to be called for jingles in New York. He rapidly became a first-call woodwind doubler on Broadway and on the jingle scene. He played the flute solo heard in the Jeopardy theme for many years. In 1961 he played on the daytime Merv Griffin show and was on staff at NBC for 13 weeks. In 1962 Merv invited him to go to California with the band for the long-running Merv Griffin show, but he declined because he was very successful by then in New York.
Shows Buzz Appeared In
Bravo Giovanni
Hello Dolly through Pearl Bailey's start of the show (appeared on both Carol Channing's and Pearl Bailey's cast albums)
1776
How Now Dow Jones
Seesaw
Applause
Lorelei
Mack And Mable which closed after 4 months because of a musicians' strike
The Night that Made America Famous (Harry Chapin multi-media Broadway show)
A Chorus Line - first 8 years
Subbed in many shows when he was between jobs including Fiddler On the Roof and Grease
Two flops he appeared in - opened on Thursday and closed on Saturday:
The Beast in Me
The Fig Leaves Are Falling by Allen Sherman
He recorded with many well-known artists including Nat King Cole's last album of songs from My Fair Lady doing several solos, Barbra Streisand's People album and many Harry Chapin albums. He was on many long-running commercials including GE and AT&T. He worked on many jingles for Harry's brother Steve Chapin long after Harry's show closed.
In 1983 Buzz had to retire due to Parkinsons' disease. He continued to be interested in the music field and pursue his hobby of photography.