About Tony



Regarded as one of the most versatile trumpet players in the music business, Terran influenced the Los Angeles music scene for more than four decades as a specialist of many musical styles. Tony was the last surviving member of the Desi Arnaz Orchestra from the I Love Lucy television show. He had the distinction of playing on the first filmed television sitcom (I Love Lucy), and playing with some of the first R&B combo bands to use horns in the early 1950s.

Terran was in high school when he started working on live radio shows in Buffalo, NY. In 1944, he arrived in Los Angeles after touring with Horace Heidt. In 1945, he began working with Bob Hope, and then with Desi Arnaz in 1946. His relationship with Arnaz helped shape Cuban/Latin music in the United States.

Tony Terran Wrecking Crew

Studio Recordings

Tony Terran was part of The Wrecking Crew, which was a group of session musicians in Los Angeles, California, who earned wide acclaim in the 1960s. 

The Wrecking Crew was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum on November 26, 2007.

Photo: Wrecking Crew Horn Section

Tony Terran performed and recorded with many renowned artists including:

The Jackson 5The Mamas & the PapasThe Beach BoysThe Beatles, The Bee GeesRay CharlesNeil DiamondChicagoNat King ColeNatalie ColeCommodoresPerry ComoBob DylanElla FitzgeraldBenny GoodmanTony BennettEartha KittPeggy Lee, Madonna (I’m Breathless), Dean MartinElvis Presley] Bonnie Raitt (Takin’ My Time), Linda RonstadtDiana RossFrank SinatraSammy Davis Jr.Lou RawlsBarbra StreisandBaja Marimba BandTijuana BrassThe CarpentersTom Waits and Ricky Nelson.