A fine big band drummer, Sonny Igoe was inspired by Gene Krupa, Kenny Clarke and Max Roach. He was originally self-taught and at age 16 won a Gene Krupa drumming contest. Igoe was in the Army during 1942-46 and then played with Tommy Reed (1946-47), Les Elagart (1947) and Ina Ray Hutton (1948). His most significant musical associations were with Benny Goodman (the bebop band of 1948-49), Woody Herman's Third Herd (1950-52) and Charlie Ventura (1953-55). Since then Igoe has spent most of his career as a studio musician and as a teacher. However he has remained active and, starting in the 1980's, he frequently co-led a big band with Dick Meldonian which recorded several albums for Progressive. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi