Sammy Nestico (1924–2021) was a distinguished American composer and arranger, renowned for his significant contributions to big band jazz. Beginning his career as a trombonist, he later became the chief arranger for the U.S. Air Force Band and the U.S. Marine Band. From 1967 to 1984, Nestico collaborated extensively with the Count Basie Orchestra, arranging numerous albums, including the Grammy-winning "Basie Straight Ahead." His versatile arrangements also graced recordings by Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, and Phil Collins. Beyond performance, Nestico's educational compositions have been widely adopted in school music programs, cementing his legacy as a pivotal figure in jazz education and performance. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Nestico?utm_source=openai))