Al Belletto

Al Belletto (January 3, 1928 – December 26, 2014) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.

Belletto was raised in New Orleans, where he led his own bands as a college student; he eventually obtained a master's degree from Louisiana State University. He played with Sharkey Bonano, Louis Prima, Wingy Manone and the Dukes of Dixieland in the 1940s and 1950s, then led his own band for several albums on Capitol Records from 1952. He and his ensemble became part of Woody Herman's band for State Department tours of South America in 1958-59.

In the 1960s, Belletto worked at the New Orleans Playboy Club fronting the house band and serving as Musical/Entertainment Director, booking nationally-known acts into the venue.

Discography

• Sounds and Songs (Capitol Records, 1955)
• Half and Half (Capitol, 1956)
• Whisper Not (Capitol, 1957)
• The Big Sound (King Records, 1962)
• Coach's Choice (ART Records, 1973)
• Jazznocracy (Louisiana Red Hot, 1998)

References

• Ron Wynn, Al Belletto at Allmusic