Benny Morton (January 31, 1907 – December 28, 1985)
was an American
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
trombonist, most associated with the
swing genre.
Career
He was born in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, United States.
One of his first jobs was working with
Clarence Holiday, and he appeared with Clarence's daughter
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 s ...
towards the end of her life on
The Sound of Jazz
"The Sound of Jazz" is a 1957 edition of the CBS television series '' The Seven Lively Arts'' and was one of the first major programs featuring jazz to air on American network television.
Overview
The one-hour program aired on Sunday, December 8 ...
.
Morton was a member of pianist
Teddy Wilson
Theodore Shaw Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. Described by critic Scott Yanow as "the definitive swing pianist", Wilson had a sophisticated, elegant style. His work was featured on the records of many ...
's Sextet throughout the early 1940s. In the 1960s he was part of the Jazz Giants band:
"Wild" Bill Davison (cornet),
Herb Hall
Herbert L. Hall (March 28, 1907 – March 5, 1996) was an American jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist.
Early life
Hall was born in Reserve, Louisiana, the brother of Edmond Hall and the son of clarinetist Edward Hall.
Career
Hall bega ...
(clarinet and alto),
Claude Hopkins
Claude Driskett Hopkins (August 24, 1903 – February 19, 1984) was an American jazz stride pianist and bandleader.
Biography
Claude Hopkins was born in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. Historians differ in respect of the actual date of his ...
(piano),
Arvell Shaw (bass) and
Buzzy Drootin
Benjamin "Buzzy" Drootin (April 22, 1920 – May 21, 2000) was an American jazz drummer.
Career
Drootin was born near Kyiv, Ukraine, and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, United States, with his family when he was five. His father played the ...
(drums). They toured the U.S. and frequently in Canada where they did some recording for
Sackville Records
Sackville Records was a Canadian record company and label that specialized in jazz.Gardner/Kernfeld, "Sackville". '' Grove Jazz'' online. In 2011, with Sackville defunct, Delmark Records acquired its catalogue.
Sackville was founded in 1968 in ...
. Towards the end of the 1960s, he played with an offshoot of the Jazz Giants under the leadership of Buzzy Drootin, called Buzzy's Jazz Family, including Herb Hall, with
Herman Autrey replacing Davison, Buzzy's nephew
Sonny Drootin replacing Hopkins, and
Eddie Gibbs replacing Shaw. He is probably best known for his work with
Count Basie
William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...
and
Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson (December 18, 1897 – December 29, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black music ...
.
On February 23, 1934, Morton led a session of four songs that were issued under his own name (Benny Morton & His Orchestra). Made up mostly of member of Fletcher Henderson's and Don Redman's band, they included:
Henry Allen-trumpet/Benny Morton-trombone/
Edward Inge
Edward Inge (May 7, 1906 – October 8, 1988) was an American jazz arranger and reedist.
Inge was raised in Kansas City and played clarinet from age 12. He played with George Reynolds's Orchestra when he was 18, then worked with Dewey Jackson, A ...
-clarinet and alto saxophone/Jerry Blake-clarinet-alto saxophone)/Ted McRae-tenor saxophone/Don Kirkpatrick-piano/Bobby Johnson-guitar/Billy Taylor-slap bass/Manzie Johnson-drums.
* W 152717-2-3 "Get Goin'" (vocal and arrangement by Jerry Blake) (Columbia)
* W 152718-1 "Fare Thee Well To Harlem" (vocal by Jerry Blake) (Columbia)
* W 152719-1 "Tailor Made" (arranged by Billy Taylor) (Columbia)
* W 152720-2 "The Gold Digger's Song (We're In The Money)" (vocal by Henry Allen) (Columbia)
Benny Morton died in December 1985, at the age of 78.
Discography
With
Count Basie
William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...
*''
The Original American Decca Recordings'' (GRP, 1937-39
992
With
Ray Bryant
Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant (December 24, 1931 – June 2, 2011) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.
Early life
Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 24, 1931. His mother was an ordained minister who had tau ...
*''
Madison Time'' (Columbia, 1960)
;With
Buck Clayton
Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter who was a member of Count Basie's orchestra. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong, first hearing the record "Confessin' That I Love You" ...
and
Ruby Braff
Reuben "Ruby" Braff (March 16, 1927 – February 9, 2003) was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Jack Teagarden was once asked about him on the Garry Moore television show and described Ruby as "the Ivy League Louis Armstrong".
Braff ...
*''
Buck Meets Ruby
''Buck Meets Ruby'' is an album by trumpeters Buck Clayton and Ruby Braff which was recorded in 1954 and released on the Vanguard label originally as a four track 10-inch LP.Rex Stewart
Rex William Stewart Jr. (February 22, 1907 – September 7, 1967) was an American jazz cornetist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra.
Career
As a boy he studied piano and violin; most of his career was spent on cornet. Stewart drop ...
*''
Henderson Homecoming
''Henderson Homecoming'' is a live album performed by cornetist Rex Stewart with the Fletcher Henderson Alumni that was recorded at the Great South Bay Jazz Festival in 1958 and released on the United Artists label.Edwards, D., Eyries, P. & Calla ...
'' (United Artists, 1959)
;With
Dicky Wells
William Wells (June 10, 1907 – November 12, 1985), known professionally as Dicky Wells (sometimes Dickie Wells), was an American jazz trombonist.
Career
Dickie Wells is believed to have been born on June 10, 1907 in Centerville, Tennessee, Un ...
*''
Bones for the King
''Bones for the King'' is an album by trombonist Dicky Wells which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Felsted label.Trombone Four-in-Hand
''Trombone Four-in-Hand'' is an album by trombonist Dicky Wells which was recorded in 1959 and released on the Felsted label. '' (Felsted, 1959)
References
External links
Jazz Professional InterviewBenny Morton papers Institute of Jazz Studies The Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS) is the largest and most comprehensive library and archives of jazz and jazz-related materials in the world. It is located on the fourth floor of the John Cotton Dana Library at Rutgers University–Newark in Newa ...
, Rutgers University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morton, Benny
1907 births
1985 deaths
American jazz trombonists
Male trombonists
Musicians from New York City
Count Basie Orchestra members
Blue Note Records artists
20th-century American musicians
Jazz musicians from New York (state)
20th-century trombonists
American male jazz musicians
20th-century American male musicians