Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco (February 17, 1923 – December 24, 2014)[1] was an American jazz clarinetist.

[1] He began his professional career just as swing music and big bands—many of which were led by clarinetists like Artie Shaw, and Benny Goodman—were in decline.

[2] He then led a small combo in the early 1950s which included pianist Sonny Clark and guitarist Tal Farlow.

In this period, DeFranco recorded for MGM, Norgran and Verve; the latter two labels were owned by Norman Granz.

He also performed with Gene Krupa, Art Blakey, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Charlie Barnet, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Lennie Tristano, Dodo Marmarosa, Terry Gibbs, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Eddie Daniels, Andy Firth-musician, Don Burrows, Putte Wickman, Billie Holiday and many others, and released dozens of albums as a leader.