Bandleader, trumpeter, singer, actor, voice over artist, and television and film legend Jack Sheldon died on Dec. 27. His death was reported by his longtime manager, Dianne Jimenez. He was 88 years old.

A magnetic entertainer, Sheldon wore many musical hats in his long and prolific career. Known for his distinctive trumpet style and tone, he played with so many great artists, including Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra Chet Baker, Rosemary Clooney, Sammy Davis, Jr. and many more.

Sheldon performed widely know tender lead on "The Shadow of Your Smile," the love theme from the 1965 Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton film, The Sandpiper. The song, which was written by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster, won Song Of The Year at the 8th GRAMMY Awards the and also earned the Academy Award for best original song.

He also enjoyed a successful television career, serving as Merv Griffin's sidekick for 16 years on "The Merv Griffin Show," starting in 1962.

“It’s a haunting trumpet he plays,” Griffin told the L.A. Times in 2002. “Henry Mancini once told me, ‘If I’ve got a couple making passionate love on screen and I’m writing the score, it’s Jack Sheldon’s trumpet I want.’” 

At Griffin's funeral in 2007, Sheldon performed "Shadow Of Your Smile," which was Griffin's favorite song of his.

Sheldon also provided memorable voices on the Saturday morning kids educational show "Schoolhouse Rock!," which premiered in 1973, as the Conjunction Conductor and sang the famous song "I'm Just A Bill."

"I like the music to swing," he told the L.A.Times in 1987, "and I like to make people feel it, feel happy and sad, everything. If the music makes me smile and happy, then maybe the people will feel it, too."

He also brought his contagios joy to television on shows such as "The Cara Williams Show," "Run, Buddy, Run," "The Girl With Something Extra," and more. 

Later in his career, he battled various health problems, and the use of his right hand became impaired. Sheldon learned to play the trumpet left-handed and continued to perform until 2019. A memorial service will be held on Jan. 10 at 2 p.m. at Forest Lawn in Cypress, Calif.

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