Joe Marsala (born January 4, 1907 in Chicago; died March 4, 1978 om Santa Barbara, California) was a Chicago-based jazz clarinetist and songwriter. He was active during the big band era. Marsala is notable as one of the early employers of drummer Buddy Rich. Among his other musicians included pianist Joe Bushkin and guitarist Carmen Mastren. Leonard Feather, among others, gives him a good deal of credit for breaking down segregation in jazz. Wikipedia
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