James Hawthorne Bey (April 17, 1913 – April 8, 2004)

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'', April 13, 2004. Retrieved October 28, 2016.Jenkins, Todd S
"Chief Bey: Master of African drums."
''www.jazzhouse.org.'' Retrieved October 28, 2016. was an American jazz percussionist and African folklorist. He played under the name of Chief Bey.

Early life

Born James Hawthorne in

Yemassee, South Carolina Yemassee () is a small Lowcountry town in Beaufort and Hampton counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 1,027 at the 2010 census. Yemassee is near the borders of Colleton and Jasper counties. The town is divided by the co ...

, Bey moved with his family to

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

and then to

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street (Manhattan), 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and 110th Street (Manhattan), ...

, where he began playing drums and singing in church choirs. He also served in the

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It in ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and later attended

cosmetology Cosmetology (from Greek , ''kosmētikos'', "beautifying"; and , '' -logia'') is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty include hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/ pedicures, non-permanent hair removal such ...

school.

Later life and career

In the 1950s, Bey performed in an international tour of ''

Porgy and Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', it ...

'' starring

Leontyne Price Mary Violet Leontyne Price (born February 10, 1927) is an American soprano who was the first African American soprano to receive international acclaim. From 1961 she began a long association with the Metropolitan Opera, where she was the first Af ...

and

Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist ...

. He also began a busy recording career, performing on

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet (inclu ...

's ''At the Village Gate'' (1961),

Art Blakey Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the 1 ...

's ''The African Beat'' (1962),

Ahmed Abdul-Malik Ahmed Abdul-Malik (born Jonathan Tim, Jr.; January 30, 1927 – October 2, 1993) was an American jazz double bassist and oud player. Abdul-Malik is remembered for integrating Middle Eastern and North African music styles in his jazz music.Kelse ...

's ''

Sounds of Africa ''Sounds of Africa'' is the fourth album by double bassist and oud player Ahmed Abdul-Malik featuring performances recorded in 1962 (with one track from 1961) and originally released on the New Jazz label.Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an interna ...

Miriam Makeba Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she w ...

and Pharoah Sanders, among others. He took his stage name after joining the

Moorish Science Temple of America The Moorish Science Temple of America is an American national and religious organization founded by Noble Drew Ali (born as Timothy Drew) in the early twentieth century. He based it on the premise that African Americans are descendants of the M ...

, a Muslim sect. Then he taught the

shekere The shekere (from Yoruba Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀) is a West African percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd with beads or cowries woven into a net covering the gourd. The Shekere originated in a tribe in Nigeria called the Yoruba. The in ...

, a West African percussion instrument, at the Griot Institute at Intermediate School 246 in Brooklyn. Bey died at his home in Brooklyn of stomach cancer at the age of 91.Carlson, Russell
"Percussionist Chief Bey Dies."
''www.jazztimes.com'', April 15, 2004. His widow, Barbara Kenyatta Bey (born Barbara Ann Coleman in Harlem on June 9, 1944), was a priestess of Yemaja in the

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

religion. She collapsed at his funeral and died four days later.

Discography

As leader

* ''Children of the House of God'' ( Mapleshade, 1997)

As sideman

With

Hamiet Bluiett Hamiet Bluiett (; September 16, 1940 – October 4, 2018) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument was the baritone saxophone, and he was considered one of the finest players of this instrument. A mem ...

* ''Orchestra, Duo & Septet'' (Chiaroscuro, 1977) * ''

Dangerously Suite ''Dangerously Suite'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett recorded in 1980 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.Frohne, M.Soul Note discographyaccessed November 18, 2014 Reception In his review for AllMusic, Milo Fine s ...

'' (Soul Note, 1981) * ''Nali Kola'' (Soul Note, 1989) * ''Bearer of the Holy Flame'' (Black Fire, 1994) * ''Bluiett's Barbeque Band'' (Mapleshade, 1996) * ''Live at Carlos 1'' (Just a Memory, 1997) * ''Live at Carlos 1: Another Night'' (Just a Memory, 1997) * ''Live at Carlos 1: Last Night'' (Just a Memory, 1998) With

Babatunde Olatunji Michael Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist. Early life Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nige ...

* ''Zungo!'' (Columbia, 1961) * ''High Life!'' (Columbia, 1963) * ''Drums! Drums! Drums!'' (Roulette, 1964) With others *

, ''Sounds of Africa'' (New Jazz, 1962) * Ray Barretto, ''Mysterious Instinct'' (Charlie Parker, 1962) *

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an interna ...

, ''An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba'' (RCA Victor, 1965) *

, ''

The African Beat ''The African Beat'' is a jazz album released by Art Blakey and The Afro-Drum Ensemble in November 1962 on Blue Note Records. He described it as the first opportunity he had to work with drummers from Africa; as a blend of American jazz with the ...

'' (Blue Note, 1962) *

Solomon Ilori Solomon Gbadegesin Ilori (born c. 1934) is a Nigerian drummer and percussionist who moved to New York City in 1958 and collaborated with jazz artists such as Art Blakey and Harry Belafonte before recording his debut album for Blue Note Records i ...

, ''African High Life'' (Blue Note, 1963) *

, ''

Herbie Mann at the Village Gate ''Herbie Mann at the Village Gate'' is a 1961 live album by jazz flutist Herbie Mann which was his third album for Atlantic Records, the main label for much of his career. The album was recorded at legendary club The Village Gate.Liner notes to At ...

'' (Atlantic, 1962) * Herbie Mann, ''

Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate ''Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate'' is a live album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded in 1961 for the Atlantic label but not released until 1963.Miriam Makeba Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she w ...

, ''Makeba Sings!'' (RCA Victor, 1965) *

Howard Roberts Howard Mancel Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guitarist, educator, and session musician. Early years Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Damon and Vesta Roberts, and began playing guitar at the age of 8 - a ...

, ''Lord Shango'' (Bryan, 1975) * Pharoah Sanders, ''Thembi'' (ABC Impulse!, 1971) * Pharoah Sanders, ''

Izipho Zam (My Gifts) ''Izipho Zam (My Gifts)'' is the third album led by saxophonist Pharoah Sanders recorded in 1969 but not released on the Strata-East label until 1973. It features Sanders with a large ensemble. Reception In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jure ...

'' (Strata-East, 1973) * Warren Smith, ''Cats Are Stealing My $hit'' (Mapleshade, 1998) *

Guy Warren Guy Warren of Ghana, also known as Kofi Ghanaba (4 May 1923 – 22 December 2008), was a Ghanaian musician, best known as the inventor of Afro-jazz — "the reuniting of African-American jazz with its African roots" — and as a member of The T ...

, ''Themes for African Drums'' (RCA Victor, 1959) *

Randy Weston Randolph Edward "Randy" Weston (April 6, 1926 – September 1, 2018) was an American jazz pianist and composer whose creativity was inspired by his ancestral African connection. Weston's piano style owed much to Duke Ellington and Thelonious ...

, ''

Khepera Khepri ( Egyptian: ''ḫprj,'' also transliterated Khepera, Kheper, Khepra, Chepri) is a scarab-faced god in ancient Egyptian religion who represents the rising or morning sun. By extension, he can also represent creation and the renewal of life ...

'' (Verve, 1998) *

Judd Woldin Judd Woldin (May 30, 1925 – November 27, 2011) was an American composer, most notable for his musical ''Raisin''. Biography Edwin Judd Woldin was born in Somerville, New Jersey. At the age of eight, he began taking piano lessons. In high schoo ...

, ''Raisin'' (Columbia, 1973) *

World Saxophone Quartet The World Saxophone Quartet is an American jazz ensemble founded in 1977, incorporating elements of free jazz, R&B, funk and South African jazz into their music. The original members were Julius Hemphill (alto and soprano saxophone, flute), ...

, ''Metamorphosis'' (Elektra Nonesuch, 1991) * World Saxophone Quartet, ''Selim Sivad. Tribute to Miles Davis with African Drums'' (Justin Time, 1998)

References

Jo Anna Hunter Iyanifa Omotinuwe, My Journey To Aganjú: The Orisa so Hard to Find http://www.blackmadonnaenterprises.com

External links

Chief Bey discographyChief Bey at allmusic.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bey, Chief 1913 births 2004 deaths American jazz drummers United States Navy personnel of World War II People from Yemassee, South Carolina Musicians from Brooklyn Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Deaths from stomach cancer 20th-century American drummers American male drummers Jazz musicians from New York (state) 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians African-American drummers 20th-century African-American musicians