John Neely (January 29, 1930 in Chicago – October 8, 1994 in Richton Park, Illinois) was a jazz tenor saxophonist and arranger. A member of

King Fleming Walter "King" Fleming (May 4, 1922 – April 1, 2014) was an American jazz pianist and bandleader.Russell Williams and

Lorez Alexandria Lorez Alexandria (born Dolorez Alexandria Turner; August 14, 1929 – May 22, 2001). was an American jazz singer, described as "one of the most gifted and underrated jazz singers of the twentieth century". She became established in the midwest b ...

) which recorded for the Chicago-based Blue Lake label in early 1954, he had played with

Clifford Jordan Clifford Laconia Jordan (September 2, 1931 – March 27, 1993) was an American jazz tenor saxophone player. While in Chicago, he performed with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some rhythm and blues groups. He moved to New York City in 1957, after ...

in 1949.Campbell, Robert L.; Pruter, Robert and Büttner, Armin "The King Fleming Discography"
In 1960, Neely recorded with pianist Earl Washington for the Formal label in a band which included

Walter Perkins Walter Perkins may refer to: * Walter Perkins (musician) (1932–2004), American jazz drummer * Walter Perkins (Stroud MP) (1903–1988), Conservative Party politician in England * Walter E. Perkins Walter Eugene Perkins (1859–1925) was an Am ...

on drums. That same year, Neely went on to join the

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...

band. ''

Down Beat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

'' (February 2, 1961) wrote: "John Neely, 30 year old Chicagoan, is being hailed by his fellows as 'one of the baddest acts in the country and the next BIG man on tenor."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neely, John American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists African-American saxophonists 1930 births 1994 deaths Jazz musicians from Chicago 20th-century American saxophonists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians 20th-century African-American musicians