Bobby Hackett—King of the Cornet

Bobby Hackett was perhaps the most instrumental (no pun intended) musician in establishing the trademark Jackie Gleason sound. When selecting the musicians for his for his first album, Music for Lovers Only, Gleason specifically chose Hackett to be the solo instrumentalist. Gleason had heard Hackett’s superb cornet playing and admired his virtuosity. It proved stroke of brilliance that contributed mightily to the album’s sales success.

Hackett was born in January 1915 in Providence, Rhode Island and displayed musical ability at a young age. By his early teens he displayed a preference for the cornet, but it is not clear if he was self taught. Despite the impact of the Depression, Hackett managed to ride it out by playing in bands both large and small during the 1930s,

The 1940s were a very productive and creative period for Hackett. He joined the Glen Miller band in 1941. The following year, the famous big band appeared prominently in Orchestra Wives. Bobby Hackett made his film debut, albeit modestly. Also appearing in the film was Jackie Gleason as the bassman in the band. This film was, perhaps, the first time Gleason and Hackett met. Gleason was impressed with Hackett’s horn-playing and remembered him when Music for Lovers Only was conceived.

Hackett was in demand by other groups when Miller went off to war himself. Hackett was rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong. In 1946 he joined the ABC music staff that provided him steady work for the next 15 years. However, he was free to perform in other venues if it did not interfere with his contractual requirements with ABC.

In 1952, Hackett was contacted by Jackie Gleason for a new album of smooth, romantic instrumental ballads. Hackett agreed, and the album, Music for Lovers Only, proved a superb showcase for Hackett’s cornet virtuosity. The album gave Hackett’s career a tremendous boost and made him a household name to countless thousands of album listeners. With the success of this album, Gleason would call on Hackett for another five albums during the 1950s.

In James Bacon's biography of Gleason, How Sweet It Is (St. Martin's Press, New York. 1985) Hackett spoke of his admiration for Gleason's musical ability:

"Jackie knows a lot more about music than he is given credit for. I have seen him conduct a sixty-piece orchestra and detect one discordant note in the brass section.  He would immediately stop the music and locate the wrong note.  It always amazed the professional musicians how a guy who technically didn't know one note from another could do that.  And he was never wrong."

Hackett also recorded his own albums during the 1960s, primarily with Epic and Columbia. He was also a hand-picked accompanist for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and other big names. The swinging Sixties was one of the busiest decades in Hackett’s career.

It was during a visit to Cape Cod. Massachusettes in 1970 that Hackett fell in love with the beautiful New England coastline. He spent most of the rest of his life there, playing his cornet until the time of his death in 1976. His beautiful music lives on, giving joy to a new generation of listeners.