Decker, James

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(b Venice, CA, Nov 23, 1921). American horn player. After studying with james Stagliano , principal horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and first-call studio musician, Decker served as first horn with the National Symphony (1941–2), second horn to Alfred Brain with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a musician with Fox Studios (1943–8), and first horn with the Kansas City Philharmonic (1948). Contracted by Columbia and Paramount Studios with first horn obligations, Decker recorded thousands of film scores from 1948 to 1993. In addition to his film duties in Los Angeles, his other performance activities included ten years as first horn in Neville Mariner’s Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and twenty years as first horn with the California Chamber Orchestra. Decker can be heard on a multitude of recordings, including those conducted by Stravinsky beginning in 1960. Decker also played in over thirty recordings by Frank Sinatra and as solo horn on recordings of ...