Cuba Austin (1906 – 1961) 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 major ...

drummer.

Early life

Austin was born in

Charleston, West Virginia Charleston is the capital and List of cities in West Virginia, most populous city of West Virginia. Located at the confluence of the Elk River (West Virginia), Elk and Kanawha River, Kanawha rivers, the city had a population of 48,864 at the 20 ...

Career

In 1926, Austin became a member of William McKinney's group,

McKinney's Cotton Pickers McKinney's Cotton Pickers were an American jazz band, founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States in 1926, and led by William McKinney, who expanded his Synco Septet to ten players. Cuba Austin took over for McKinney on drums, with the latter bec ...

. Austin joined the group after its formation, taking over from McKinney himself on drums. The group recorded frequently, both under the names Cotton Pickers and Chocolate Dandies. In 1931, the Cotton Pickers split into two ensembles, with Austin heading one of them, which took the name, The Original Cotton Pickers. When he disbanded this group in 1934, he moved to

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

and worked on his own, as well as in an orchestra with Rivers Chambers. Austin was an influential figure in early jazz;

Gene Krupa Eugene Bertram Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973), known as Gene Krupa, was an American jazz drummer, bandleader and composer who performed with energy and showmanship. His drum solo on Benny Goodman's 1937 recording of "Sing, Sing, S ...

called Austin one of his major influences. Austin was one of the first drummers to use the newly invented hi hat in hot and swing jazz.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Austin, Cuba 1906 births 1961 deaths American jazz drummers Jazz musicians from West Virginia 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians McKinney's Cotton Pickers members People from Charleston, West Virginia Musicians from Charleston, West Virginia