One-Of-A-Kind Boomie Richman’s (1921-2016) 1950 William S. Haynes Sterling Silver Flute

Richman was born in Brockton, Massachusetts on April 2, 1921. Before joining the Dorsey band, he worked with George Paxton and Muggsy Spanier. From 1945 to 1951, he recorded with Dorsey and was a soloist in the band. During the 1950s he worked intermittently with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and with Red Allen, Ruby Braff, Al Cohn, Cootie Williams, and the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra.
He also worked as a studio musician. Richman recorded with Buddy Holly on October 21, 1958, playing the sax solo on “True Love Ways”. He also played with Judy Garland in her comeback performance at Carnegie Hall. On television, he appeared on The Jimmy Dean Show, The Perry Como Show, The Dick Cavett Show, The Patti Page Show, The Pat Boone Show, and The Andy Williams Show.

Richman played a Selmer Tenor Mark VI saxophone. He used a baritone reed with a wide flare, and his tone was described on more than one occasion as, “a very expensive sound.” He also played the clarinet, bass clarinet, piccolo, flute and rusty trombone.

Bands Richman played with included Mugsy Spanier, Les Elgart, George Paxton and His Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. He played with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett and Peggy Lee.

He recorded with Buddy Holly on October 21, 1958, playing the sax solo on “True Love Ways”. He also played with Judy Garland in her comeback performance at Carnegie Hall

On television, Richman appeared on The Jimmy Dean Show, The Perry Como Show, The Dick Cavett Show, The Patti Page Show, The Pat Boone Show, and The Andy Williams Show.

Richman retired from the Benny Goodman band in 1956. He then became the ‘first-call’ studio ace in New York City where he recorded for television and radio commercials.