George Thomas Cohn (March 14, 1925 – November 7, 2006), known professionally as Sonny Cohn, was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...

trumpeter whose career spanned over six decades. After working for fifteen years with Red Saunders (1945–1960), Cohn went on to spend another twenty four years in

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 th ...

's trumpet section (1960–1984).

Life and career

Cohn was born in Chicago, Illinois. Cohn started playing in small groups around the city with King Fleming while he was still a teenager.Campbell, Robert L.; Pruter, Robert and Büttner, Armin "King Fleming Discography"
Cohn joined Red Saunders' group in 1945, while Saunders was out of the Club DeLisa and working with a sextet instead of his usual mid-sized band. After his stint in the military, Cohn joined the Saunders group at the Capitol Lounge in Chicago; Leon Washington had recommended him. Cohn was featured on Saunders' first recordings as a leader, for

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, Sultan, and (behind Big Joe Turner) on National. Cohn was heard on the records that Saunders made for OKeh Records beginning in 1951 through 1953. After those records, Cohn was on Saunders' recordings for

Parrot Parrots, also known as psittacines (), are birds of the roughly 398 species in 92 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes (), found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three superfamilies: the Psittaco ...

and

Blue Lake Blue Lake may refer to: Places ;Antarctica * Blue Lake (Ross Island) ;Australia * Blue Lake (New South Wales) * Blue Lake (Queensland) ** Blue Lake National Park, a former protected area in Queensland * Blue Lake / Warwar, South Australia ;Cro ...

in 1953 and 1954. Cohn survived several downsizings of the Red Saunders band, as well as the closure of the Club DeLisa, but eventually accepted an offer from

, with whom he worked from 1960 through 1984. After Basie's death, Cohn returned to Chicago, where he remained active as a musician for another two decades.

Health and death

Cohn underwent bypass surgery in 2003. Cohn died on November 7, 2006 in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois at the age of 81. His funeral was held on November 11, 2006 and he was buried at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.

Discography

With

*'' Not Now, I'll Tell You When'' (Roulette, 1960) *'' The Count Basie Story'' (Roulette, 1960) *'' Kansas City Suite'' (Roulette, 1960) *'' The Legend'' (Roulette, 1961) *'' Back with Basie'' (Roulette, 1962) *'' Basie in Sweden'' (Roulette, 1962) *'' On My Way & Shoutin' Again!'' (Verve, 1962) *'' This Time by Basie!'' (Reprise, 1963) *'' More Hits of the 50's and 60's'' (Verve, 1963) *'' Pop Goes the Basie'' (Reprise, 1965) *'' Basie Meets Bond'' (United Artists, 1966) *'' Live at the Sands (Before Frank)'' (Reprise, 1966 998 *'' Sinatra at the Sands'' (Reprise, 1966) with Frank Sinatra *'' Basie's Beatle Bag'' (Verve, 1966) *'' Broadway Basie's...Way'' (Command, 1966) *'' Hollywood...Basie's Way'' (Command, 1967) *'' Basie's Beat'' (Verve, 1967) *'' Basie's in the Bag'' (Brunswick, 1967) *'' The Happiest Millionaire'' (Coliseum, 1967) *'' Manufacturers of Soul'' (Brunswick, 1968) with Jackie Wilson *'' The Board of Directors Annual Report'' (Dot, 1968) with The Mills Brothers *'' Basie Straight Ahead'' (Dot, 1968) *''

How About This ''How About This'' is an album by vocalist Kay Starr and pianist and bandleader Count Basie, released in 1969 by the Paramount Records label.Edwards, D. & Callahan, MParamount Album Discography accessed November 15, 2015 Background In the 1960s, ...

'' (Paramount, 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 ...

'' (Dot, 1969) *'' Basic Basie'' (MPS, 1969) *'' Basie on the Beatles'' (Happy Tiger, 1969) *''

High Voltage High voltage electricity refers to electrical potential large enough to cause injury or damage. In certain industries, ''high voltage'' refers to voltage above a certain threshold. Equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant spe ...

'' (MPS, 1970) *'' Me and You'' (Pablo, 1983) With James Moody *'' Last Train from Overbrook'' (Argo, 1958) With

Duke Jordan Irving Sidney "Duke" Jordan (April 1, 1922 – August 8, 2006) was an American jazz pianist. Biography Jordan was born in New York and raised in Brooklyn where he attended Boys High School. An imaginative and gifted pianist, Jordan was a regu ...

*'' Les Liaisons Dangereuses'' (Vogue, 1962)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohn, Sonny 1925 births 2006 deaths American jazz musicians American rhythm and blues musicians American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters African-American musicians Count Basie Orchestra members Musicians from Chicago Jazz musicians from Illinois American male jazz musicians 20th-century American male musicians Burials at Burr Oak Cemetery