Gerald Foster Wiggins (May 12, 1922 – July 13, 2008) was an American jazz pianist and organist.

Early life

Wiggins was born in New York City on May 12, 1922.Vacher, Pete
"Wiggins, Gerry"
''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'' (2nd edition). Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved February 1, 2016. (Subscription required). He studied classical music, but switched to jazz in his teens.

Later life and career

Wiggins began as a professional career as a musician accompanying comedian

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. Wiggins worked with

Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...

and

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

. He was in the military from 1944 to 1946. In the 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he played music for television and film. He also worked with singers like

Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American dancer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years, appearing in film, television, and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of th ...

(1950–51),

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, and

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. In 1960, his best recording as an organist appeared, ''Wiggin' Out'', known for the quality of its music and fresh, clear sound. He recorded another LP at the organ with saxophonist

Teddy Edwards Theodore Marcus Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. He learned to play at a very early age, first on alto saxophone and then ...

. "In the 1960s he worked as a music director and vocal coach in film studios," including "a lengthy stint as vocal coach for Marilyn Monroe." In the 1970s he often collaborated with vocalist

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. Wiggins was known for his trio with

Andy Simpkins Andrew Simpkins (April 29, 1932 – June 2, 1999) was an American jazz bassist. Born in Richmond, Indiana, he first became known as a member of the group The Three Sounds, with which he performed from 1956 to 1968.allmusic biography/ref> After ...

and

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, among others. He also appeared in an episode of '' 227'', and an episode of ''

Moesha ''Moesha'' () is an American television sitcom that aired on UPN from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Denise Mitchell, an African-American teenager living with her upper middle class famil ...

'', in both cases he played a pianist. "He appeared regularly at American jazz parties and festivals and occasionally at Japanese and European festivals and was in demand for recording sessions." Late in his career, Wiggins recorded for

Concord Records Concord Records is an American record label owned by Concord and based in Los Angeles, California. Concord Records was launched in 1995 as an imprint designed to reach beyond the company's foundational Concord Jazz label. The label's artists have ...

which according to ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'' "demonstrate his firm touch, all-round musicianship, and sense of swing."

Personal life and death

Wiggins was married to Lynn Wiggins from 1987 until his death. He had two children, three step-children, and several grandchildren, and died in Los Angeles on July 13, 2008 at the age of 86.

Selected discography

As leader/co-leader

*''Wiggin' with Wig'' (Dig, 1956) *''Relax and Enjoy It!'' (Contemporary, 1956) *''

Collections Collection or Collections may refer to: * Cash collection, the function of an accounts receivable department * Collection (church), money donated by the congregation during a church service * Collection agency, agency to collect cash * Collection ...

'' (Intro, 1957) with

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and

Joe Morello Joseph Albert Morello (July 17, 1928 – March 12, 2011) was an American jazz drummer best known for serving as the drummer for pianist Dave Brubeck, as part of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, from 1957 to 1972, including during the quartet's "classic ...

*''Reminiscin' with Wig'' (Fresh Sound, 1957) *''The King and I'' ( Challenge, 1957) *''The Gerald Wiggins Trio'' (Tampa Records, 1958) *''The Loveliness of You...'' (Tampa Records, 1958) *''Music from "Around the World in 80 days" in Modern Jazz'' (Specialty 1958) *''Wiggin' out'' (Hi-Fi Jazz 1960) – as organist *''Memory Lane'' (Ava 1964) *''Wig is here'' (Black and Blue 1977) *''A beautiful friendship'' (Black and Blue 1977) *''

Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Eight ''Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Eight'' is an album of solo performances by jazz pianist Gerald Wiggins, recorded in 1990. Music and recording The album was recorded in August 1990 at the Maybeck Recital Hall in Berkeley, California. The m ...

'' (Concord 1990) *''Soulidarity'' (Concord 1995) * Gerry Wiggins and friends (Madwig Music 2002)

As sideman

With Mel Brown *''

Chicken Fat Chicken fat is fat obtained (usually as a by-product) from chicken rendering and processing. Of the many animal-sourced substances, chicken fat is noted for being high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. Linoleic acid levels are between ...

'' (Impulse!, 1967) With

Red Callender George Sylvester "Red" Callender (March 6, 1916 – March 8, 1992) was an American string bass and tuba player. He is perhaps best known as a jazz musician, but worked with an array of pop, rock and vocal acts as a member of The Wrecking Cre ...

*''

The Lowest ''The Lowest'' is an album by bassist and tubist Red Callender, recorded for the MetroJazz label in 1958.

'' (MetroJazz, 1958) With

*'' Aspects'' (United Artists, 1959) With

Buddy Collette William Marcel "Buddy" Collette (August 6, 1921 – September 19, 2010) was an American jazz flutist, saxophonist, and clarinetist. He was a founding member of the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Early life William Marcel Collette was born in L ...

*''

Tanganyika Tanganyika may refer to: Places * Tanganyika Territory (1916–1961), a former British territory which preceded the sovereign state * Tanganyika (1961–1964), a sovereign state, comprising the mainland part of present-day Tanzania * Tanzania Main ...

'' (Dig, 1956) *''

Man of Many Parts ''Man of Many Parts'' is an album by multi-instrumentalist and composer Buddy Collette recorded at sessions in 1956 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1956) *''

Everybody's Buddy ''Everybody's Buddy'' is an album by multi-instrumentalist and composer Buddy Collette recorded at sessions in 1957 and released on the Challenge Records (1950s), Challenge label.Edwards, D. and Callahan, MChallenge/4 Star Album Discographyaccess ...

'' (Challenge, 1957) *''

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'' (Interlude 1957

959 Year 959 ( CMLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * April - May – The Byzantines refuse to pay the yearly tribute. A Hungari ...

With

Harry Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard backi ...

*'' "Sweets" for the Sweet'' (Sue, 1964) *'' Sweets for the Sweet Taste of Love'' (Vee-Jay, 1964) With

*'' Heart & Soul'' (as organist) (Contemporary, 1962) With

Tal Farlow Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998) was an American jazz guitarist. He was nicknamed "Octopus" because of how his large, quick hands spread over the fretboard. As Steve Rochinski notes, "Of all the guitarists to emerge in th ...

* '' Autumn In New York'' (Norgran 1954) With Paul Horn *''

House of Horn ''House of Horn'' is the debut album by saxophonist Paul Horn which was released on the Dot label in 1957.Edwards, D. and Callahan, MDot Album Discography Part 2: LPs 3000-3250/25000-25250accessed August 14, 2015 Illinois Jacquet Jean-Baptiste "Illinois" Jacquet (October 30, 1922 – July 22, 2004) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on "Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo. Although he was a pioneer of t ...

*'' Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra'' (Verve, 1956) With

Cal Tjader Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, known as the most successful non-Latino Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, even as he continued to perform music of Afro-Jazz, ...

*''Cal Tjader Quartet'' (Fantasy, 1956) With

Gerald Wilson Gerald Stanley Wilson (September 4, 1918 – September 8, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1940s. In addition to being a ...

*'' Jessica'' (Trend, 1983)

References

External links

Interview of Gerald Wiggins
part o
Central Avenue Sounds Oral History Project
Center for Oral History Research, UCLA Library Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles. *

All Music AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

br>Gerald Wiggins Interview
NAMM Oral History Library, February 13, 2008. {{DEFAULTSORT:Wiggins, Gerald 1922 births 2008 deaths American jazz pianists American male pianists West Coast jazz pianists Challenge Records artists Specialty Records artists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians The Capp-Pierce Juggernaut members American military personnel of World War II