Lil Greenwood (born Lillian Belle George, November 18, 1923 – July 19, 2011) was an American jazz and R&B singer and songwriter.

Biography

Greenwood was born in Prichard, Alabama, where her father was a Baptist minister, and attended

Alabama State College Alabama State University (ASU) is a public historically black university in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1867, ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. History Alabama State University was founded in 1867 as the Lin ...

. In 1948, when her husband was in the military, she gave up her teaching career and moved to San Francisco. She sang at the Purple Onion club, and between 1950 and 1953 sang with Roy Milton and his Solid Senders. She also recorded under her own name for the

Modern Modern may refer to: History * Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Phil ...

and

Federal Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to: Politics General *Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies *Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...

labels. Greenwood sang with Roy Milton at the 6th annual

Cavalcade of Jazz The Cavalcade of Jazz was the first large outdoor jazz entertainment event of its kind produced by an African American, Leon Hefflin, Sr. The event was held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, Lane Field in San Diego and the last one at the Shrine Aud ...

held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles on June 25, 1950, along with

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 ...

, Dinah Washington, Pee Wee Crayton,

Big Jay McNeely Cecil James "Big Jay" McNeely (April 29, 1927 – September 16, 2018) was an American rhythm and blues saxophonist. Biography Inspired by Illinois Jacquet and Lester Young, McNeely teamed with his older brother Robert McNeely, who played barito ...

and Tiny Davis and her Hell Divers. In 1956, she was recruited by

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

to sing as a soloist with his orchestra, and recorded and toured extensively with Ellington over the next six years. "R.I.P. Lil Greenwood (1923-2011)", ''ModMobilian.com'', July 19, 2011
Retrieved 7 November 2016 After leaving Ellington, she recorded singles for a number of small record labels. In the 1970s, she guest starred in the television series ''

Good Times ''Good Times'' is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was television's first African ...

'' and '' The Jeffersons''. Greenwood recorded the CD “Back to My Roots” with David Amram in 2007. She suffered a

stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...

in 2010, leaving her unable to perform, and died in her hometown of Prichard on July 19, 2011. She was buried in the Catholic Cemetery of Mobile, Alabama.Find-a-Grave "Lil Greenwood"
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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Greenwood, Lil 1923 births 2011 deaths People from Prichard, Alabama African-American musicians American rhythm and blues musicians Jazz-blues musicians Burials at the Catholic Cemetery (Mobile, Alabama) Musicians from Alabama Alabama State University alumni 20th-century African-American musicians 21st-century African-American musicians