When I started out, all I did was play my trombone.

His grave marker bears a musical score with the first four notes of "Somewhere My Love. Conniff commented "One time I was recording an album with Mitch Miller - we had a big band and a small choir. After his stint with Shaw he was then hired by Mitch Miller then head of A&R at Columbia Records as their home arranger working with several artists including Rosemary Clooney Marty Robbins Frankie Laine Johnny Mathis Guy Mitchell and Johnnie Ray.