Curtis Peagler (September 17, 1929 — December 19, 1992) was an American jazz saxophonist who specialized in

straight-ahead jazz Straight-ahead jazz is a genre of jazz that developed in the 1960s, with roots in the prior two decades. It omits the rock music and free jazz influences that began to appear in jazz during this period, instead preferring acoustic instruments, con ...

and

hard bop Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or "bop") music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospe ...

Early life

Peagler was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He played in the blues genre during the first phase of his career, before joining the U.S. Army for two years from 1953 to 1955.

Career

Around 1960 Peagler led a band called the Modern Jazz Disciples, which specialized in hard bop. The band included a euphonium and normaphone player, William "Hicky" Kelley, an unusual instrument for jazz musicians to play during the era. The Disciples recorded two albums: the self-titled ''Modern Jazz Disciples'' (1959) and ''Right Down Front'' (1962). Peagler recorded as a member of Lem Winchester's sextet that recorded the album ''

Lem's Beat ''Lem's Beat'' is an album by vibraphonist Lem Winchester's Sextet with saxophonist Oliver Nelson recorded in 1960 and released on the New Jazz label.Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

during the late 1960s, he became a member of Count Basie's Band during the 1970s. He played in Cheatham's Sweet Baby Blues Band, led by Jeanie and

Jimmy Cheatham James Rudolph Cheatham (June 18, 1924 – January 12, 2007) was an American jazz trombonist and teacher who played with Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, and Ornette Coleman. In 1978, Cheatham was invited to lead the jazz program at Universit ...

, shortly before his death.

Death

In 1992, Peagler died following heart surgery at

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over 2 ...

in Los Angeles.

Legacy

Jazz critic

Leonard Feather Leonard Geoffrey Feather (13 September 1914 – 22 September 1994) was a British-born jazz pianist, composer, and producer, who was best known for his music journalism and other writing. Biography Feather was born in London, England, into an u ...

described Peagler as "an exciting, extrovert saxophonist who lent color to every band he played in, from Ray Charles in the 1960s to

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 ...

in the ‘70s." James Nadal referred to him as "a solid, hard working sax man whose performance and recording resume was quite impressive."

Discography

As leader

* ''For Basie and Duke'' (1982) * ''I'll Be Around'' (1986) * ''Disciples Blues'' (2001)

As sideman

With Count Basie

* ''

Have a Nice Day Have a nice day is a commonly spoken expression used to conclude a conversation (whether brief or extensive), or end a message by hoping the person to whom it is addressed experiences a pleasant day. Since it is often uttered by service employee ...

'' (1971)

With Ray Charles

* ''

My Kind of Jazz ''My Kind of Jazz'' is a 1970 album by Ray Charles. Track listing # "Golden Boy" (Charles Strouse, Lee Adams) – 3:34 # "Booty Butt" (Ray Charles) – 4:11 # "This Here" (Bobby Timmons) – 4:43 # " I Remember Clifford" ( Benny Golson) – 3:3 ...

'' (1970)

With Jimmy Cheatham

* ''Sweet Baby Blues'' (1985)

With
Freddie Redd Freddie Redd (May 29, 1928 – March 17, 2021) was an American Hard bop, hard-bop pianist and composer. He is best known for writing music to accompany ''The Connection (play), The Connection'' (1959), a play by Jack Gelber. According to Peter ...

* ''

Everybody Loves a Winner ''Everybody Loves a Winner'' is an album by American jazz pianist Freddie Redd recorded in 1990 and released on the Milestone Records, Milestone label.Fitzgerald, M.Freddie Redd Leader Entry accessed April 8, 2015.Fitzgerald. M.Milestone label dis ...

'' (1990)

With
Mel Tormé Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed "The Velvet Fog", was an American musician, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. He composed the music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Op ...

* '' Night at the Concord Pavilion'' (1990)

With Lem Winchester

* ''

Lem's Beat ''Lem's Beat'' is an album by vibraphonist Lem Winchester's Sextet with saxophonist Oliver Nelson recorded in 1960 and released on the New Jazz label.African-American jazz musicians American jazz alto saxophonists American male saxophonists Hard bop musicians Hard bop saxophonists 1929 births 1992 deaths Prestige Records artists Musicians from Cincinnati Musicians from Ohio 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American saxophonists American male jazz musicians 20th-century American male musicians

Early life

Career

Death

Legacy

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Count Basie

With Ray Charles

With Jimmy Cheatham

With Freddie Redd Freddie Redd (May 29, 1928 – March 17, 2021) was an American Hard bop, hard-bop pianist and composer. He is best known for writing music to accompany ''The Connection (play), The Connection'' (1959), a play by Jack Gelber. According to Peter ...

With Mel Tormé Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed "The Velvet Fog", was an American musician, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. He composed the music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Op ...

With Lem Winchester

With
Freddie Redd Freddie Redd (May 29, 1928 – March 17, 2021) was an American Hard bop, hard-bop pianist and composer. He is best known for writing music to accompany ''The Connection (play), The Connection'' (1959), a play by Jack Gelber. According to Peter ...

With
Mel Tormé Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed "The Velvet Fog", was an American musician, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. He composed the music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Op ...