Don Rader began playing trumpet at age five with lessons from his father. He later studied at Sam Houston State Teacher’s College in Texas before serving in the U.S. Navy. After his discharge from the service, Rader played in, and wrote music for, the bands led by Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie, Louis Bellson, Harry James, Terry Gibbs and Stan Kenton. In addition, he toured with Della Reese, Sarah Vaughn, Andy Williams, Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope (including on five tours to Vietnam as a member of the Les Brown Band of Renown.

In 1972 he assembled a quintet in Los Angeles and worked with West Coast musicians including Lanny Morgan, Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akiyoshi. He recorded eight albums as a leader and worked in music education for many years both in the United States and abroad.

Trumpeter, composer and arranger Don Rader died on this date in 2023 at the age of 87.

Here is a link to a cut from Rader's 1976 album "Now."

"DON'T TOUCH"