Milton Brent Buckner (July 10, 1915 – July 27, 1977) 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 m ...

pianist and organist, who in the early 1950s popularized the

Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert and first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, Hammond organs generated ...

.Arwulf Arwulf
Milt Buckner biography
All Music. He pioneered the parallel chords style

Feather, Leonard Leonard Geoffrey Feather (13 September 1914 – 22 September 1994) was a British-born jazz pianist, composer, and producer, who was best known for his music journalism and other writing. Biography Feather was born in London, England, into an u ...

, & Ira Gitler (2007). ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz''. Oxford University Press. that influenced

Red Garland William McKinley "Red" Garland Jr. (May 13, 1923 – April 23, 1984) was an American modern jazz pianist. Known for his work as a bandleader and during the 1950s with Miles Davis, Garland helped popularize the block chord style of playing in j ...

George Shearing Sir George Albert Shearing, (13 August 1919 14 February 2011) was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records, MGM Records and Capitol Records. Shearing was the composer of over 300 ...

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block ch ...

, and

Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian virtuoso jazz pianist and composer. Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, ...

. Buckner's brother,

Ted Buckner Theodore Guy Buckner (December 14, 1913, St. Louis, Missouri - April 12, 1976, Detroit, Michigan) was an American jazz saxophonist. He was the brother of Milt Buckner. Buckner was raised in Detroit, where he played very early in his career befo ...

, was a jazz saxophonist.

Early life and career

Milton Brent Buckner was born in

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

, United States. His parents encouraged him to learn to play piano, but they both died when he was nine years old. Milt and his younger brother Ted were sent to Detroit where they were adopted by members of the Earl Walton band: trombonist John Tobias, drummer George Robinson fostered Milt and reedplayer Fred Kewley ( Fred Cecil Kewley; 1889–1953) fostered Ted.Lars Bjorn with Jim Gallert
''Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit, 1920-60''
University of Michigan Press, 2001, p. 24-25. Buckner studied piano for three years from the age 10, then at 15 began writing arrangements for the band, he and his brother going on to become active in the Detroit jazz world in the 1930s. Buckner first played in Detroit with the

McKinney's Cotton Pickers McKinney's Cotton Pickers were an American jazz band, founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States in 1926, and led by William McKinney, who expanded his Synco Septet to ten players. Cuba Austin took over for McKinney on drums, with the latter bec ...

and then with

Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalis ...

. In 1941, he joined

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 ...

's big band, and for the next seven years served as its pianist and staff arranger. Buckner was part of a Variety Revue of 1950 organized by Lionel Hampton at the Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at

Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman's Chicago ...

in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. on June 25, 1950. He led a short-lived big band of his own for two years, but then returned to Hampton's in 1950. In 1952, he formed his own trio and pioneered the use of the electric Hammond organ. He often played in Europe in the late 1960s. His last studio session took place in Paris on 4 July 1977. Milt Buckner is also known for the use of his song "The Beast" in the title menu of the video game, '' Battlefield: Bad Company''. Buckner died of a heart attack in July 1977, in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...

, at the age of 62.

Discography

* "Vibe Boogie" (with

) (

V-Disc V-Disc ( "V" for Victory) was a record label that was formed in 1943 to provide records for U.S. military personnel. Captain Robert Vincent supervised the label from the Special Services division. Many popular singers, big bands, and orches ...

404, 1945) * "Chord-A-Re-Bop" (with Lionel Hampton) (

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in We ...

18830, 1946) * ''Milton Buckner: The Swinging Block-Chords Pianist 1943–1950'' (

EPM Musique EPM Musique is a French record label that was created in 1986 by François Dacla, former president of RCA France. The label specializes in Chanson and its legacy. It is also dedicated to poetry, theater, and children's music. "EPM is a French la ...

16018, 2002) * ''The Chronological Milt Buckner 1946–1951'' (

Classics Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman literature and their related original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. Classics ...

'Blues & Rhythm Series' 5032, 2002) * "Milt's Boogie" b/w "Buck's Bop" ( MGM 10410, 1949) * "M.B. Blues" b/w "Oo-Be-Doop" (MGM 10504, 1949) * "Buck-A-Boo" b/w "Yesterdays" (MGM 10632, 1949) * ''Milt Buckner Piano'' (

Savoy Savoy (; frp, Savouè ; french: Savoie ) is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south. Sa ...

MG-15023 0" LP 1953) - note: includes 6 of the 13 tracks Buckner's Beale Street Gang recorded for Savoy in 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1951. * ''Organ...Sweet 'N' Swing'' (

Regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...

MG-6004, 1956) - note: a shared album with Bobby Banks, and Vin Strong; includes 4 of the 6 tracks Buckner's trio recorded for Scooter Records (a subsidiary of Roost) in 1952: "By The River St. Marie", "Rollin' Strollin'", Take It Away", and "Russian Lullaby". * ''Rockin' with Milt'' (

Capitol A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity. Specific capitols include: * United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. * Numerous ...

T-642, 1955; CD reissue: Jasmine JASCD-499, 2009) * ''Rockin' Hammond'' (Capitol T-722, 1956; CD reissue: Jasmine JASCD-499, 2009) * ''Send Me Softly'' (Capitol T-938, 1957; CD reissue: Solar U4569921, 2012) * ''Mighty High'' (

Argo In Greek mythology the ''Argo'' (; in Greek: ) was a ship built with the help of the gods that Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The ship has gone on to be used as a motif in a variety of ...

LPS-660, 1959; CD reissue: Solar U4569916, 2012) * ''Please, Mr. Organ Player'' (Argo LPS-670, 1960; CD reissue: Solar U4569921, 2012) * ''Midnight Mood'' (Argo LPS-702, 1961; CD reissue: Solar U4569916, 2012) * ''The New World of Milt Buckner'' (

Bethlehem Bethlehem (; ar, بيت لحم ; he, בֵּית לֶחֶם '' '') is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000,Amara, 1999p. 18.Brynen, 2000p. 202. and it is the capital ...

BCP-6072, 1963) * ''Play Chords'' (SABA 15110, 1966) * ''Them There Eyes'' (with Buddy Tate) ( Black & Blue 33.013, 1967) * ''Locked Hands'' ( MPS 15199, 1968) * ''More Chords'' (MPS 15237, 1969) * ''Rockin' Again'' (Black & Blue 33.043, 1972) * ''Black and Blue Stomp'' (Black & Blue, 33.061, 1973) * ''Block Chords Parade'' (Black & Blue 33.184, 1974 el. 1984 CD reissue: Black & Blue BB-953, 2002) * ''Green Onions'' (with Roy Gaines) (Black & Blue 33.087, 1975; Classic Jazz CJ-141, 1980; CD reissue: Black & Blue BB-929, 2000) * ''Milt Buckner & His Alumni (The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions)'' (Black & Blue BB-909, 1976

el. 1998 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

* ''Boogie Woogie USA'' (Black & Blue 33.120, 1977)

As sideman

With

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (April 18, 1924 – September 10, 2005) was an American singer and multi-instrumentalist from Louisiana. He won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1983 for his album, ''Alright Again!''. Early life B ...

* ''Sings Louis Jordan'' (Black & Blue 33.053, 1973) * ''Cold Strange'' (Black & Blue 33.096, 1973 el. 1976 With

Arnett Cobb Arnett Cleophus Cobb (August 10, 1918 – March 24, 1989)
accessed July 2010. was an American tenor saxophonist, somet ...

* ''Again with Milt Buckner'' (Black & Blue 33.052, 1973) * ''Midnight Slows, Vol. 3'' (with Floyd "Candy" Johnson too!) (Black & Blue 33.055, 1973) * ''Midnight Slows, Vol. 6'' (Black & Blue 33.093, 1976) * ''The Wild Man From Texas'' (Black & Blue 33.099, 1976) With

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" (later shortened in "Jaws"): it is either said that ...

* ''Leapin' on Lenox'' (Black & Blue 33.072, 1974) With Roy Gaines * ''Superman'' (Black & Blue, 33.088, 1975) With

Tiny Grimes Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes (July 7, 1916 – March 4, 1989) was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He was a member of the Art Tatum Trio from 1943 to 1944, was a backing musician on recording sessions, and later led his own bands, including a rec ...

* ''Chasin with Milt'' (Black & Blue 33.017, 1968) With

Illinois Jacquet Jean-Baptiste "Illinois" Jacquet (October 30, 1922 – July 22, 2004) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on " Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo. Although he was a pioneer of ...

* '' Go Power!'' (Cadet LPS-773, 1966) * '' The King!'' (

Prestige Prestige refers to a good reputation or high esteem; in earlier usage, ''prestige'' meant "showiness". (19th c.) Prestige may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films * ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnet ...

PR-7597, 1968) * ''

The Soul Explosion ''The Soul Explosion'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Illinois Jacquet which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Black Lion Black Lion, Black Lions, or Blacklions may refer to: Businesses and organisations * Black Lion, Hammersmith, a London pub * Black Lion, Kilburn, a London pub * Black Lion Records, a British jazz record company * Black Lions Films, associated w ...

BL-146, 1971) * ''Illinois Jacquet with Milt and Jo'' (Black & Blue 33.070, 1974) * ''Jacquet's Street'' (Black & Blue 33.112, 1976) With

Floyd "Candy" Johnson Floyd "Candy" Johnson (May 1, 1922 in Madison, Illinois – June 28, 1981 in Framingham, Massachusetts) was an American jazz saxophonist. Career Johnson started on drums before moving to saxophone. His professional career began in St. Louis, wher ...

* ''Candy's Mood'' (with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown too!) (Black & Blue 33.058, 1973) With Guy Lafitte * ''Midnight Slows, Vol. 7'' (Black & Blue 33.115, 1977) With

Jay McShann James Columbus "Jay" McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader. He led bands in Kansas City, Missouri, that included Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Walter Brown, and B ...

* ''Jumpin' the Blues'' (Black & Blue 33.039, 1970

el. 1972 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American ...

* ''Kansas City Memories'' (Black & Blue 33.057, 1973) With

Buddy Morrow Buddy Morrow (born Muni Zudekoff, aka Moe Zudekoff; February 8, 1919 – September 27, 2010) was an American trombonist and bandleader. Career On a scholarship at age 16, Morrow studied trombone with Ernest Horatio Clarke (1865–1947) at Juill ...

* ''Night Train Goes to Hollywood'' ( Mercury MG-20702/SR-60702, 1962) With Andre Persiany * ''Pianistically Yours'' (Black & Blue 33.176, 1975–1976 el. 1982 With Hal Singer * ''Milt And Hal'' (with

too!) (Black & Blue 33.016, 1968) With

Buddy Tate George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All A ...

* ''When I'm Blue'' (Black & Blue 33.014, 1967) * ''Crazy Rhythm'' (Black & Blue 33.018, 1968) * ''Midnight Slows, Vol. 1'' (Black & Blue 33.026, 1971) * ''Midnight Slows, Vol. 4'' (Black & Blue 33.068, 1974) * ''Midnight Slows, Vol. 5'' (Black & Blue 33.075, 1974) With

Marcel Zanini Marcel Zanini (real name Zannini; 9 September 1923 – 18 January 2023) was a Turkish-born French jazz musician.. Zanini was born on 9 September 1923 in Istanbul, Turkey. His family arrived in Marseille in 1930 and settled there. His father was ...

* ''Blues and Bounce!'' (Black & Blue 33.110, 1976)

References

External links

BBC Radio 2
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckner, Milt Swing pianists American jazz keyboardists American jazz pianists American male pianists American jazz organists American male organists Jazz fusion keyboardists Jazz fusion organists Musicians from St. Louis 1915 births 1977 deaths Prestige Records artists MPS Records artists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century organists Jazz musicians from Missouri 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians 20th-century American keyboardists Black & Blue Records artists Argo Records artists