Hollywood Jim
Platinum Member
This is a profile of a little known drummer, Jim Fernandez. He was born in 1916 in Oakland, California and passed away in 1994. He was my Father.
I was going through some of his old pictures the other day. And I found a lot of drumming stuff and Hollywood movie photographs. I thought you drummers would enjoy knowing just what a great career he had and what a great legacy he left behind. I will share just a few items with you.
Jim started playing drums when he was a small boy. Here he is in 1935 at age 19 on his front lawn in Oakland California:
At ages 19 and 20 he went on two world cruises as a drummer in the ships band. He was in the US Army Band during WWII. He also toured around the country with several Orchestras and bands; Pete Pontrelli, Ray McKinley, Ted Fio Rito, and he even got to sit in for a few gigs with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchastra when they needed a drummer.
Check out this band he played in. I just love the look of the band and the décor.
In 1944 Jim moved to Los Angeles to be closer to the movie and music scene. Here is his glam shot that he used. It helped get him into the music business in Los Angeles:
He was in 23 movies and numerous TV shows. Usually he was recording the sound track or playing in the band in the “night club” scene. He was also a drum teacher for many years.
Here he is with Gene Krupa. The autograph says “To Jim, all the best, to a fine musician and a great guy, Gene Krupa”.
Here he is with Fred Astair in 1957 working on the movie Silk Stockings. The autograph says, “To Jimmy, my best wishes always, Fred Astair, 1957”.
In 1959 he was the drum coach for Sal Mineo for the movie The Gene Krupa Story. He had to learn the Gene Krupa drum parts and solos, chart them and then teach them to Sal Mineo. (When I was nine years old he took me to the studio and I watched them film several scenes for this movie)
Here he is helping Sal learn his drum part:
In 1959 he was in Pal Joey with Frank Sinatra, Rita Heyworth and Kim Novak. Here is Jim on the drums playing Zip with Rita Heyworth. Jim played on the actual recording and did all of the sound effects. And note, the drums are in front of the band!
http://youtu.be/gYZJfcyQ3oM
(By the way I still have all of the sound effect instruments that he used on this recording.)
Here he is with Frank Sinatra.
And finally, how would you like to give Kim Novak drum lessons.
And his drumming talent and legacy lives on with his son (me) Jim Jr., his Grandson Scott and his Great Grandson Jude.
Here I am in 1963 playing at a high school dance.
Here is my son Scott playing in his punk band in 2013.
http://youtu.be/5ia0GsI3Rnc
And finally here is my 2 year old grandson Jude playing the drums with his uncle Scott.
http://youtu.be/x7tvDyUjw6w
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the videos.
.
I was going through some of his old pictures the other day. And I found a lot of drumming stuff and Hollywood movie photographs. I thought you drummers would enjoy knowing just what a great career he had and what a great legacy he left behind. I will share just a few items with you.
Jim started playing drums when he was a small boy. Here he is in 1935 at age 19 on his front lawn in Oakland California:
At ages 19 and 20 he went on two world cruises as a drummer in the ships band. He was in the US Army Band during WWII. He also toured around the country with several Orchestras and bands; Pete Pontrelli, Ray McKinley, Ted Fio Rito, and he even got to sit in for a few gigs with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchastra when they needed a drummer.
Check out this band he played in. I just love the look of the band and the décor.
In 1944 Jim moved to Los Angeles to be closer to the movie and music scene. Here is his glam shot that he used. It helped get him into the music business in Los Angeles:
He was in 23 movies and numerous TV shows. Usually he was recording the sound track or playing in the band in the “night club” scene. He was also a drum teacher for many years.
Here he is with Gene Krupa. The autograph says “To Jim, all the best, to a fine musician and a great guy, Gene Krupa”.
Here he is with Fred Astair in 1957 working on the movie Silk Stockings. The autograph says, “To Jimmy, my best wishes always, Fred Astair, 1957”.
In 1959 he was the drum coach for Sal Mineo for the movie The Gene Krupa Story. He had to learn the Gene Krupa drum parts and solos, chart them and then teach them to Sal Mineo. (When I was nine years old he took me to the studio and I watched them film several scenes for this movie)
Here he is helping Sal learn his drum part:
In 1959 he was in Pal Joey with Frank Sinatra, Rita Heyworth and Kim Novak. Here is Jim on the drums playing Zip with Rita Heyworth. Jim played on the actual recording and did all of the sound effects. And note, the drums are in front of the band!
http://youtu.be/gYZJfcyQ3oM
(By the way I still have all of the sound effect instruments that he used on this recording.)
Here he is with Frank Sinatra.
And finally, how would you like to give Kim Novak drum lessons.
And his drumming talent and legacy lives on with his son (me) Jim Jr., his Grandson Scott and his Great Grandson Jude.
Here I am in 1963 playing at a high school dance.
Here is my son Scott playing in his punk band in 2013.
http://youtu.be/5ia0GsI3Rnc
And finally here is my 2 year old grandson Jude playing the drums with his uncle Scott.
http://youtu.be/x7tvDyUjw6w
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the videos.
.