Ben Kynard (February 28, 1920 – July 5, 2012) was an American jazz saxophonist (

alto The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: ''altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In 4-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in choruses by ...

and

baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...

). He was known through his collaboration with Lionel Hampton, as a composer and arranger.

Early life

Ben D. Kynard was born on February 28, 1920, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He learned how to play saxophone from his brother. He graduated in 1938 from Sumner High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

Career

Kynard appeared in nightclubs as a youth. After completing military service in the

U. S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

, he played from 1946 to 1953 in the

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...

orchestra, for which he arranged, and in 1946 composed the title "Red Top". Hampton recorded the song for Decca in 1947 and was soon covered by

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...

, However, Kynard did not get enough royalties. "Red Top" was later also recorded by musicians such as David Allen, Anthony Braxton, Dexter Gordon,

Louis Jordan Louis Thomas Jordan (July 8, 1908 – February 4, 1975) was an American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and bandleader who was popular from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as " the King of the Jukebox", he earned his high ...

, Erroll Garner,

Slide Hampton Locksley Wellington Hampton (April 21, 1932 – November 18, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. As his nickname implies, Hampton's main instrument was slide trombone, but he also occasionally played tuba and flugelho ...

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

and His Orchestra, King Pleasure /

Betty Carter Betty Carter (born Lillie Mae Jones; May 16, 1929 – September 26, 1998) was an American jazz singer known for her improvisational technique, scatting and other complex musical abilities that demonstrated her vocal talent and imaginative inter ...

, and Eddie Vinson. After Kynard had left the Hampton band, he worked for 32 years at the

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...

in Kansas City; He also played jazz in night clubs and wrote compositions for local musicians. Kynard worked from 1945 to 1984 at 51 recording sessions, with Willis Jackson, Sonny Parker, Joe Thomas and in 1948

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop si ...

('' I Cover the Waterfront'').

Personal life

Ben Kynard was an uncle of the organist

Charles Kynard Charles Kynard (20 February 1933 – 8 July 1979) was an American soul jazz/ acid jazz organist born in St. Louis, Missouri. Kynard first played piano then switched to organ and led a trio in Kansas City including Tex Johnson (flute, sax) an ...

.Information at Kynard.com
/ref> He died on July 5, 2012, in

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...

References

External links

Webpage
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kynard, Ben American music arrangers 1920 births 2012 deaths American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz composers American male jazz composers 20th-century American saxophonists