#171: The Swingin’ Shepherd Blues by Moe Koffman Quartette
City: Toronto, ON
Radio Station: CHUM
Peak Month: February 1958
Peak Position in Toronto ~ #4
Peak Position in Vancouver ~ #22
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ #36
YouTube: “The Swingin’ Shepherd Blues”
Morris “Moe” Koffman was born in Toronto in 1928 to Jewish parents who ran a variety store. Koffman began to study violin at the age of nine. He later attended the Toronto Conservatory of Music. Koffman dropped out of school when he found work performing in dance bands. In 1950, he moved to the United States, where he played with a number of big bands, including with Sonny Dunham and Jimmy Dorsey. In 1955, he returned to Toronto where he formed a quartet and later a quintet.