Marshal Walton Royal Jr. (December 5, 1912 – May 8, 1995) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and clarinetist best known for his work with
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 ...
, with whose band he played for nearly twenty years.
Early life and education
Marshal Royal Jr. was born into a musical family in
Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa is a city in Creek and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 20,544 at the 2010 United States census, compared to 19,166 at the 2000 census. The population as of 2022 is 22,205. As of 2019, the estimated popul ...
.
Career
Royal's first professional gig was with Lawrence Brown's band at Danceland in Los Angeles, and he soon had a regular gig at the Apex, working for Curtis Mosby in Mosby's Blue Blowers, a 10-piece band. He then began an eight-year (1931–1939) stint with the
Les Hite
Les Hite (February 13, 1903 – February 6, 1962) was an American jazz bandleader.
Life and career
Born in DuQuoin, Illinois, United States, Hite attended the University of Illinois and played saxophone with family members in a band in the 1920s. ...
orchestra at Sebastian's Cotton Club, which was near the MGM studios in Los Angeles. He spent 1940 to 1942 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 ...
, until the war interrupted his career.
With his brother, Ernie, he served in the U.S. Navy in the 45-piece regimental band that was attached to the Navy's preflight training school for pilots at St. Mary's College in
Moraga, California
Moraga is a town in Contra Costa County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The town is named in honor of Joaquín Moraga, member of the famed Californio family. As of 2020, Moraga had a total population of 16,870 people. Moraga is ...
. The band played for bond rallies, regimental reviews, at football games, and in concerts for the cadets and the community. Two swing bands were organized from the larger regimental band, and they played for smokers and dances at USOs and officers clubs. Royal was leader of the Bombardiers, one of those bands, which also included his brother,
Ernie
Ernie is a masculine given name, frequently a short form (hypocorism) of Ernest, Ernald, Ernesto, or Verner. It may refer to:
People
* Ernie Accorsi (born 1941), American football executive
* Ernie Adams (disambiguation)
* Ernie Afaganis (born c ...
,
Jackie Kelso
John Joseph Kelson Jr. (February 27, 1922 – April 28, 2012), known professionally as Jackie Kelso, was an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist.
Biography
Born in Los Angeles, California, Kelson was the eldest child of John Josep ...
n (later known as
Jackie Kelso
John Joseph Kelson Jr. (February 27, 1922 – April 28, 2012), known professionally as Jackie Kelso, was an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist.
Biography
Born in Los Angeles, California, Kelson was the eldest child of John Josep ...
),
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 ...
,
Jerome Richardson
Jerome Richardson (November 15, 1920 – June 23, 2000) was an American jazz musician, tenor saxophonist, and flute player, who also played soprano sax, alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute and piccolo. He played with Ch ...
, and
Vernon Alley
Vernon Alley (May 26, 1915 – October 3, 2004) was an American jazz bassist.
Early life
Alley was born in Winnemucca, Nevada, and played football in high school and college. His brother, Eddie Alley, was a drummer; they played together ...
.
When he left Basie in 1970, Royal settled permanently in Los Angeles, continuing to play and record, working with Bill Berry's big band,
Frank Capp
Francis Cappuccio (August 20, 1931 – September 12, 2017), known professionally as Frank Capp, was an American jazz drummer. Capp also played on numerous rock and roll sessions and is considered to be a member of The Wrecking Crew.
Biography
...
and
Nat Pierce
Nathaniel Pierce Blish Jr., known professionally as Nat Pierce (July 16, 1925 – June 10, 1992) was an American jazz pianist and prolific composer and arranger, perhaps best known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 195 ...
,
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, also known as Earl "Fatha" Hines (December 28, 1903 – April 22, 1983), was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one source, " ...
, and
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 ...
. Royal recorded as a soloist with
Dave Frishberg
David Lee Frishberg (March 23, 1933 – November 17, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist. His songs have been performed by Blossom Dearie, Rosemary Clooney, Shirley Horn, Anita O'Day, Michael Feinstein, Irene Kr ...
in 1977,Dave Frishberg GETTING SOME FUN OUT OF LIFE Concord Jazz LP cj-37 and with Warren Vache in 1978. He co-led a band with
Snooky Young
Eugene Edward "Snooky" Young (February 3, 1919 – May 11, 2011) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known for his mastery of the plunger mute, with which he was able to create a wide range of sounds.
Biography
Young was lead trumpeter of th ...
in the 1970s and 1980s, recording with it in 1978.
Marshal died in
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. Founded in 1917 as a "whites only" sundown town, it is now an ethnically diverse city with what was called the "third-most d ...
on May 8, 1995, aged 82.
Discography
* 1960: ''Gordon Jenkins Presents'' (
Everest
Mount Everest (; Tibetan: ''Chomolungma'' ; ) is Earth's highest mountain above sea level, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. The China–Nepal border runs across its summit point. Its elevation (snow heigh ...
)
* 1978: ''First Chair'' (
Concord Jazz
Concord Jazz is a record company and label founded in 1973 by Carl Jefferson, the former owner of Jefferson Motors Lincoln Mercury dealership in Concord, California. The label was named after the city in the East San Francisco Bay area, and the j ...
)
* 1978: ''Snooky and Marshal's Album'' with
Snooky Young
Eugene Edward "Snooky" Young (February 3, 1919 – May 11, 2011) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known for his mastery of the plunger mute, with which he was able to create a wide range of sounds.
Biography
Young was lead trumpeter of th ...
* 1980: ''Royal Blue'' (Concord Jazz)
As sideman
With
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 ...
* ''
The Count!
''The Count!'' is an album by pianist/bandleader Count Basie recorded in 1952 and released on the Clef label in 1955.Clef
A clef (from French: 'key') is a Musical notation, musical symbol used to indicate which Musical note, notes are represented by the lines and spaces on a musical staff (music), stave. Placing a clef on a stave assigns a particular pitch to ...
, 1952
955
Year 955 ( CMLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* August 10 – Battle of Lechfeld: King Otto I ("the Great") defeats the Hungarians (also ...
* ''
Basie Jazz
''Basie Jazz'' is an album by pianist/bandleader Count Basie recorded in 1952 and released on the Clef label in 1954.954
Year 954 ( CMLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place Europe
* Spring – A Hungarian army led by Bulcsú crosses the Rhine. He camps at Worms in th ...
* ''
Dance Session
''Dance Session'' is an album by pianist/bandleader Count Basie recorded in 1953 and became Basie's first 12-inch LP when it was originally released on the Clef label.
Verve
Verve may refer to:
Music
* The Verve, an English rock band
* ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve
* ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album)
* Verve Records, an American jazz record label
Businesses
* Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...
, 1956)
* ''
The Greatest!! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards
''The Greatest!! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards'' is an album by vocalist Joe Williams and pianist/bandleader Count Basie and His Orchestra recorded in 1956 and released on the Verve label.Metronome All-Stars 1956
''Metronome All-Stars 1956'' was the final album by the Metronome All-Stars, a loose amalgamation of musicians representing winners of ''Metronome'' magazine's annual poll. This 1956 release contains four tracks documenting the first collaborati ...
'' (Clef, 1956) with
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...
and Joe Williams
* ''
Hall of Fame
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...
'' (Verve, 1956
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 ...
* ''
Basie in London
''Basie in London'' is a 1956 live album by Count Basie and his orchestra, recorded (despite the inaccurate album title) in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Track listing
# "Jumpin' at the Woodside" (Count Basie, Jon Hendricks) – 3:38
# "Shiny Stockin ...
'' (Verve, 1956)
* ''
One O'Clock Jump
"One O'Clock Jump" is a jazz standard, a 12-bar blues instrumental, written by Count Basie in 1937.
Background
The melody derived from band members' riffs—Basie rarely wrote down musical ideas, so Eddie Durham and Buster Smith helped him cry ...
'' (Verve, 1957) with Joe Williams and Ella Fitzgerald
* ''
Count Basie at Newport
''Count Basie at Newport'' is a live album by jazz musician Count Basie and his orchestra. It was originally issued as Verve MGV 8243 and included only the tracks 1-7 and 13. Tracks 9-12 originally included in ''Count Basie & Joe Williams/Dizzy G ...
'' (Verve, 1957)
* ''
The Atomic Mr. Basie
''The Atomic Mr. Basie'' (originally called ''Basie'', also known as ''E=MC2'' and reissued in 1994 as ''The Complete Atomic Basie'') is a 1958 album by Count Basie and his orchestra. Allmusic gave it 5 stars, reviewer Bruce Eder saying: "it too ...
'' (Roulette, 1957) aka ''Basie'' and ''E=MC2''
* '' Basie Plays Hefti'' (
Roulette
Roulette is a casino game named after the French word meaning ''little wheel'' which was likely developed from the Italian game Biribi''.'' In the game, a player may choose to place a bet on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the ...
, 1958)
* ''
Sing Along with Basie
''Sing Along with Basie'' is an album by vocalese jazz group Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra recorded in 1958 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography Retrieved Nov ...
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross were an American vocalese trio formed by jazz vocalists Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross. From 1962 to 1964, Ross was replaced by vocalist Yolande Bavan.
History
The group formed in 1957 and recorded their f ...
* ''
Basie One More Time
''Basie One More Time'' (subtitled ''Music from the Pen of Quincy Jones'') is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie performing the compositions and arrangements of Quincy Jones recorded in late 1958 and early 1959 and originally released ...
'' (Roulette, 1959)
* ''
Breakfast Dance and Barbecue
''Breakfast Dance and Barbecue'' is a live album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie and his Orchestra with vocalist Joe Williams featuring tracks recorded at a Disc Jockey convention in Florida in 1959 and originally released on the ...
'' (Roulette, 1959)
* ''
Everyday I Have the Blues
"Every Day I Have the Blues" is a blues song that has been performed in a variety of styles. An early version of the song is attributed to Pinetop Sparks and his brother Milton. It was first performed in the taverns of St. Louis by the Spark ...
'' (Roulette, 1959) - with Joe Williams
* ''
Dance Along with Basie
''Dance Along with Basie'' is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in late 1959 and originally released on the Roulette label.
Reception
The album won the Best Performance by a Band for Da ...
'' (Roulette, 1959)
* ''
Not Now, I'll Tell You When
''Not Now, I'll Tell You When'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1960 and originally released on the Roulette Records, Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography - 1960-1969 accessed November 3, ...
'' (Roulette, 1960)
* ''
The Count Basie Story
''Count Basie Story'' is a double album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks originally performed by his orchestra in the 1930s and 1940s rerecorded in 1960 as a celebration of its 25th anniversary
and first released on ...
'' (Roulette, 1960)
* ''
Kansas City Suite
''Kansas City Suite'' (subtitled ''The Music of Benny Carter'') is an album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1960 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography - 1960-1 ...
'' (Roulette, 1960)
* ''
Back with Basie
''Back with Basie'' (subtitled ''More Hit Performances of the '60s'') is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1962 (with one from 1960) and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, ...
'' (Roulette, 1962)
* ''
Basie in Sweden
''Basie in Sweden'' (subtitled ''Recorded Live in Concert featuring Louis Bellson on Drums'') is a live album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded at an amusement park in Sweden in 1962 and originally released ...
'' (Roulette, 1962)
* ''
On My Way & Shoutin' Again!
''On My Way & Shoutin' Again!'' is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring compositions by Neal Hefti recorded in 1962 and originally released on the Verve label.This Time by Basie!
''This Time by Basie'' (subtitled ''Hits of the 50's & 60's'') is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring jazz versions of contemporary hits recorded in 1963 and originally released on the Reprise label.
Recept ...
'' (
Reprise
In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repea ...
, 1963)
* ''
More Hits of the 50's and 60's
More or Mores may refer to:
Computing
* MORE (application), outline software for Mac OS
* more (command), a shell command
* MORE protocol, a routing protocol
* Missouri Research and Education Network
Music Albums
* ''More!'' (album), by Booka ...
'' (Verve, 1963)
* ''
Pop Goes the Basie
''Pop Goes the Basie'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring jazz versions of contemporary hits recorded in 1964 and originally released on the Reprise label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography accessed November 15, 2015
Recep ...
'' (Reprise, 1965)
* ''
Basie Meets Bond
''Basie Meets Bond'' is a 1966 album by Count Basie and his orchestra. The album is a collection of musical pieces originating from the first four James Bond films; '' Dr No'', '' From Russia with Love'', '' Goldfinger'' and '' Thunderball''. The ...
'' (
United Artists
United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the studi ...
, 1966)
* ''
Live at the Sands (Before Frank)
''Live at the Sands (Before Frank)'' is a live album by the pianist and bandleader Count Basie with performances recorded in Las Vegas in 1966 at the same concerts that produced Frank Sinatra's 1966 album ''Sinatra at the Sands''. It was released ...
'' (Reprise, 1966
998
Year 998 ( CMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* Spring – Otto III retakes Rome and restores power in the papal city. Crescenti ...
* ''
Sinatra at the Sands
''Sinatra at the Sands'' is a live album by Frank Sinatra accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra, and conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones, recorded live in the Copa Room of the former Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1966.
It was ...
'' (Reprise, 1966) with
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
* ''
Basie's Beatle Bag
''Basie's Beatle Bag'' is a 1966 studio album by Count Basie and his orchestra, arranged by Chico O'Farrill. Basie released a second album of Beatles songs, '' Basie on the Beatles'', in 1969.
Track listing
# "Help!" – 2:15
# "Can't Buy Me ...
Basie's Beat
''Basie's Beat'' is a 1967 album by Count Basie and his orchestra.
The trombonist Richard Boone sings on two of the tracks, "Boone's Blues" and "I Got Rhythm".
Track listing
# "It's Only a Paper Moon" ( Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Billy ...
'' (Verve, 1967)
* ''
Basie's in the Bag
''Basie's in the Bag'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie and His Orchestra featuring performances of contemporary popular tunes recorded in 1967 and released on the Brunswick label.The Happiest Millionaire
''The Happiest Millionaire'' is a 1967 American musical film starring Fred MacMurray, based upon the true story of Philadelphia millionaire Anthony Drexel Biddle. The film, featuring music by the Sherman Brothers, was nominated for an Academy A ...
'' (Coliseum, 1967)
* ''
Half a Sixpence
''Half a Sixpence'' is a 1963 musical comedy based on the 1905 novel ''Kipps'' by H. G. Wells, with music and lyrics by David Heneker and a book by Beverley Cross. It was written as a vehicle for British pop star Tommy Steele.
Background
The ...
The Mills Brothers
The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed the Four Mills Brothers, and originally known as the Four Kings of Harmony, were an American jazz and traditional pop vocal quartet who made more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies an ...
* ''
Manufacturers of Soul
''Manufacturers of Soul'' is an album by soul music vocalist Jackie Wilson and jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring performances of jazz versions of contemporary R&B/soul hits recorded in 1968 and released on the Brunswick Records, Bru ...
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American singer and performer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a prominent figure in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. Nicknamed "Mr. Excitement", he was considered a mas ...
* ''
The Board of Directors Annual Report
''The Board of Directors Annual Report'' is an album by vocal group The Mills Brothers with pianist and bandleader Count Basie and His Orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1968 and released on the Dot label.Edwards, D. & Callahan, MDot A ...
'' (Dot, 1968) with The Mills Brothers
* ''
Basie Straight Ahead
''Basie Straight Ahead'' is an album recorded at TTG Studios, Hollywood, California in October 1968 featuring Count Basie and his orchestra. This album marked the first collaboration between Basie and his long-time orchestrator, Sammy Nestico, w ...
Paramount
Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to:
Entertainment and music companies
* Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...
, 1968) with
Kay Starr
Katherine Laverne Starks (July 21, 1922 – November 3, 2016), known professionally as Kay Starr, was an American singer who enjoyed considerable success in the late 1940s and 1950s. She was of Iroquois and Irish heritage. Starr performed multip ...
* ''
Standing Ovation
A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim. In Ancient Rome returning military commanders (such as Marcus Licinius Crassus a ...
Kenny Burrell
Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931) is an American jazz guitarist known for his work on numerous top jazz labels: Prestige, Blue Note, Verve, CTI, Muse, and Concord. His collaborations with Jimmy Smith were notable, and produced the 1965 ...
*''
Heritage
Heritage may refer to:
History and society
* A heritage asset is a preexisting thing of value today
** Cultural heritage is created by humans
** Natural heritage is not
* Heritage language
Biology
* Heredity, biological inheritance of physical c ...
'' (AudioSource, 1980)
With
Clifford Coulter Clifford Coulter was an American blues, R&B and jazz guitarist and keyboardist. allmusic Biography/ref>
Career
He released three albums, 1970's ''East Side San Jose'' with Billy Ingram and Joe Provost on drums. (Impulse! Records), 1971's ''Do I ...
* ''
Do It Now!
Do, DO or D.O. may refer to:
Languages
* The English verb, ''do'', which may serve as an auxiliary verb; see do-support
* Do (kana), ''Do'' (kana), a mora symbol in Japanese writing
* Ditto mark
People
* Đỗ, a Vietnamese surname
* Do (surname) ...
'' (Impulse!, 1971)
With
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first p ...
Monk Montgomery
William Howard "Monk" Montgomery (October 10, 1921 – May 20, 1982) was an American jazz bassist. He was a pioneer of the electric bass guitar and possibly the first to be recorded playing the instrument when he participated in a 1953 session re ...
Joe Newman with Woodwinds
''Joe Newman with Woodwinds'' is a 1958 album by trumpeter Joe Newman, featuring members of the Count Basie Orchestra. It was originally released on the Roulette label.Edwards, D. & Callahan, MRoulette Album Discography, Part 3 accessed November ...