Richard Bently Boone (February 24, 1930 – February 8, 1999) was an American jazz trombonist and scat singer.

Career

Born in

Little Rock, Arkansas (The Little Rock, The "Little Rock") , government_type = council-manager government, Council-manager , leader_title = List of mayors of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_ ...

, Boone sang in a

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

church choir as a boy, then began playing the

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...

at the age of twelve. He served with the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

from 1948 to 1953 where he played trombone in a military band. Out of the Army, he returned to Little Rock to study music at

Philander Smith College Philander Smith College is a private historically black college in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is a founding member of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Philander Smith College is accredited by ...

. In 1956 Boone moved to Los Angeles where he played in venues with

Dolo Coker Charles Mitchell "Dolo" Coker (November 16, 1927 – April 13, 1983) was a jazz pianist and composer who recorded four albums for Xanadu Records and extensively as a sideman, for artists like Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Art Pepper, Ph ...

Sonny Criss William "Sonny" Criss (23 October 1927 – 19 November 1977) was an American jazz musician. An alto saxophonist of prominence during the bebop era of jazz, he was one of many players influenced by Charlie Parker. Biography William Criss wa ...

, and

Dexter Gordon Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and actor. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians, which included other greats such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gi ...

. Boone worked in the backup band for

Della Reese Delloreese Patricia Early (July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017), known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades. She began her long career as a s ...

between 1962 and 1966 then became a member of the

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 ...

band. A few years later he left Basie and moved to

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

, Denmark, performing with the Ernie Wilkins Big Band.

Discography

As leader

* ''I've Got a Right to Sing'' (Nocturne, 1968) * ''Make Someone Happy'' with Bent Jaedig (Polydor, 1977) * ''Brief Encounter'' (Metronome, 1978) * ''Swingin' in Helsingborg'' with Al Grey (Four Leaf, 1991) * ''A Tribute to Love'' (Stunt, 1998)

As sideman

With

* '' Hollywood...Basie's Way'' (Command, 1966) * '' Broadway Basie's...Way'' (Command, 1966) * ''

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.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 ...

'' (Dot, 1967) * '' The Board of Directors'' (Dot, 1967) * ''

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 ...

'' (Dot, 1968) * ''

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 ...

'' (Dot, 1969) * ''

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) * ''

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) * ''

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 ...

'' with

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 ...

(Brunswick, 1968) * '' How About This'' 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 ...

(Paramount, 1968) With

* ''

The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon ''The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon'' is an album by American saxophonist Dexter Gordon recorded in 1960 and released on the Jazzland label.

'' (Jazzland, 1960) * ''More Than You Know'' (SteepleChase, 1975) With

Thad Jones Thaddeus Joseph Jones (March 28, 1923 – August 20, 1986) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader who has been called "one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists". Biography Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan, U ...

* ''By Jones I Think We've Got It'' (Metronome, 1978) * ''Eclipse'' (Metronome, 1980) * ''A Good Time Was Had by All'' (Storyville, 1989) With

Ernie Wilkins Ernest Brooks Wilkins Jr. (July 20, 1922 – June 5, 1999) was an American jazz saxophonist, conductor and arranger who spent several years with Count Basie. He also wrote for Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Dizzy Gillespie. He was musical direc ...

* ''Ernie Wilkins and the Almost Big Band'' (Storyville, 1981 * ''Live! At Slukefter Jazz Club in Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen'' (Matrix, 1982) * ''Montreux'' (SteepleChase, 1984) * ''On the Roll'' (SteepleChase, 1987)

References

The Jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark
1930 births 1999 deaths American expatriates in Denmark American jazz singers Boone, Richard Bently 20th-century American singers Count Basie Orchestra members DR Big Band members {{US-jazz-singer-stub