Ray Willis Nance (December 10, 1913 – January 28, 1976) 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 major ...

trumpeter,

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

ist and singer. He is best remembered for his long association with

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 ...

and his orchestra.

Early years

Nance was the leader of his own band in Chicago from 1932 to 1937. Then, he worked with

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, " ...

from 1937 to 1939; and from 1939 to 1940 he worked with

Horace Henderson Horace W. Henderson (November 22, 1904 – August 29, 1988), the younger brother of Fletcher Henderson, was an American jazz pianist, organist, arranger, and bandleader. Henderson was born in Cuthbert, Georgia, United States. While later a ...

Ellington tenure

Ellington hired Nance to replace trumpeter

Cootie Williams Charles Melvin "Cootie" Williams (July 10, 1911 – September 15, 1985) was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter. Biography Born in Mobile, Alabama, Williams began his professional career at the age of 14 with the Yo ...

, who had joined

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

, in 1940. Nance's first recorded performance with Ellington was at the Fargo, North Dakota ballroom dance. Shortly after joining the band, Nance was given the trumpet solo on the earliest recorded version of "

Take the "A" Train "Take the 'A' Train" is a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn that was the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra. History The use of the Strayhorn composition as the signature tune was made necessary by a ruling in 1940 by the American ...

", which became the Ellington theme. Nance's "A Train" solo is one of the most copied and admired trumpet solos in jazz history. Indeed, when Cootie Williams returned to the band more than twenty years later, he would play Nance's solo on "A Train" almost exactly as the original. Ray Nance 1943

Nance was often featured on violin, and was the only violin soloist ever featured in Ellington's orchestra (especially noteworthy is his violin contribution to the original 1942 version of "The 'C' Jam Blues"). He is also one of the better known male vocalists associated with Ellington's orchestra. On later recordings of "

It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Irving Mills. It is now accepted as a jazz standard, and jazz historian Gunther Schuller characterized it as "now legendary" and "a prophe ...

", Nance took the previously instrumental horn riff into the lead vocal, which constitute the line "Doo wha, doo wha, doo wha, doo wha, yeah!" He was often featured as vocalist on "Jump for Joy," " Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" and "

Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me) "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)" is a 1941 popular song composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Lee Gaines. The song has been recorded numerous times by a number of artists in the years since, having become a jazz standard. Hit re ...

". His multiple talents (trumpet, violin, vocals and also dancing) earned him the nickname "Floorshow". Nance was absent from the Duke Ellington Orchestra for three or four months in 1946, including the date of that year's Carnegie Hall concert. In 1949, Nance participated, along with Ellington sidemen

Russell Procope Russell Keith Procope (August 11, 1908 – January 21, 1981) was an American clarinetist and alto saxophonist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra. Before Ellington Procope was born in New York City, United States, and grew up in S ...

, Johnny Hodges and

Sonny Greer William Alexander "Sonny" Greer (December 13, c. 1895 – March 23, 1982) was an American jazz drummer and vocalist, best known for his work with Duke Ellington. Biography Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, United States, and play ...

on several Ivory Joe Hunter sessions, for King Records of Cincinnati.

Post-Ellington years

He left Ellington in 1963 during their Middle East tour after having played alongside his returned predecessor Cootie Williams for a year. He continued to make several guest appearances in the orchestra over the years and later toured and recorded in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

in 1974. Nance made a few recordings as a bandleader, and also recorded or performed with

Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as " Botch-a-Me", " Mambo Italiano", ...

, Jaki Byard,

Chico Hamilton Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton (September 20, 1921 – November 25, 2013) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He came to prominence as sideman for Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, and Lena Horne. Hamilton became a bandleader, ...

and others.

Discography

As leader

* ''Ellingtonia'' (Wynne, 1959) * ''A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing '' (

Parker Records Parker may refer to: Persons * Parker (given name) * Parker (surname) Places Place names in the United States *Parker, Arizona *Parker, Colorado * Parker, Florida * Parker, Idaho *Parker, Kansas * Parker, Missouri * Parker, North Carolina *Parke ...

, 1959) * '' Body and Soul'' ( Solid State, 1970) * ''Huffin' 'n' Puffin' '' ( MPS, 1974)

As sideman

With Ahmed Abdul-Malik * '' Spellbound'' (Status, 1964) With Jaki Byard *'' Jaki Byard with Strings!'' (Prestige, 1968) With

* '' The Duke at Fargo, 1940: Special 60th Anniversary Edition'' ( Storyville, 1940 performance) * ''Duke Ellington and His Great Vocalists'' (Sony, c. 1940s) * ''Cabin in the Sky Soundtrack'' (

Rhino A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species o ...

, 1942 performance) * ''Indispensable Duke Ellington, Vol. 11–12 (1944–1946)'' (RCA, 1944–1946 performances) or ''The Best of the Complete Duke Ellington RCA Recordings, 1944–1946)'' ( RCA, 1944–1946 performances) * '' Ellington Uptown'' (includes Harlem Suite, Controversial Suite, Liberian Suite) (Columbia, 1947, 1951, 1952 performances) * ''

Masterpieces by Ellington ''Masterpieces by Ellington'' is the first LP album by American pianist, composer, and bandleader Duke Ellington, recorded for the Columbia label in 1950.

'' (Columbia, 1950, 1951 performances) * ''

Ellington '55 ''Ellington '55'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Capitol label in 1953 and 1954 and released in 1955.

'' (Capitol, 1955) or ''Jazz Profile'' (Blue Note, 1950s, 1960s performances) * '' A Drum Is a Woman'' (Columbia, 1956) * '' Blue Rose'' (With Rosemary Clooney) (1956) * '' Historically Speaking'' (1956) * ''

Ellington at Newport ''Ellington at Newport'' is a 1956 live jazz album by Duke Ellington and his band of their 1956 concert at the Newport Jazz Festival, a concert which revitalized Ellington's flagging career. Jazz promoter George Wein describes the 1956 concert as ...

'' (Columbia, 1956) * ''

Such Sweet Thunder ''Such Sweet Thunder'' is a Duke Ellington album, released in 1957. The record is a twelve-part suite based on the work of William Shakespeare. Background In August 1956, Duke Ellington and his orchestra were in Canada, performing in the same ci ...

'' (Columbia, 1957) * '' All Star Road Band'' (Doctor Jazz, 1957 983 * ''

Black, Brown and Beige ''Black, Brown and Beige'' is an extended jazz work written by Duke Ellington for his first concert at Carnegie Hall, on January 23, 1943. It tells the history of African Americans and was the composer's daring attempt to transform attitudes about ...

'' (Columbia, 1958) * '' Live at the Blue Note'' (1958) * '' Newport 1958'' (Columbia, 1958) * ''

Festival Session ''Festival Session'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia Records label in 1959.

'' (Coilumbia, 1959) * ''

Blues in Orbit ''Blues in Orbit'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1959 and released in 1960.Anatomy of a Murder'' (Columbia, 1959) * '' Jazz Party'' (Columbia, 1959) * ''

Piano in the Background ''Piano in the Background'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Columbia label in 1960.Hot Summer Dance ''Hot Summer Dance'' is a live album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded at Mather Air Force Base in California and first released as a CD on Bob Thiele's Red Baron label in 1983.

'' (Red Baron, 1960

991 Year 991 (Roman numerals, CMXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events * March 1: In Rouen, Pope John XV ratifies the first Peace and Truce of God, Truce of God, between ...

* ''

The Nutcracker Suite ''The Nutcracker'' ( rus, Щелкунчик, Shchelkunchik, links=no ) is an 1892 two-act ballet (""; russian: балет-феерия, link=no, ), originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaiko ...

'' (Columbia, 1960) * ''

Swinging Suites by Edward E. and Edward G. ''Swinging Suites by Edward E. & Edward G.'' (also known as ''Peer Gynt Suite/Suite Thursday'') is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1960 featuring a jazz interpretation of ''P ...

'' (1960) (Peer Gynt Suite/Suite Thursday) * ''

First Time! The Count Meets the Duke ''First Time! The Count Meets the Duke'' is an album by American pianists, composers and bandleaders Duke Ellington and Count Basie with their combined Orchestras recorded and released on the Columbia label in 1961.All American in Jazz ''All American in Jazz'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1962 and released on the Columbia label.Midnight in Paris ''Midnight in Paris'' is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in Paris, the film follows Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), a screenwriter, who is forced to confront the shortcomings of his relationship with his materialis ...

'' (Columbia, 1962) * ''

Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins ''Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins'' is a jazz album by Duke Ellington and Coleman Hawkins that was recorded on August 18, 1962, and released in February 1963 by Impulse! Records. In 1995, ''The New York Times'' called it "one of the great ...

'' (Impulse!, 1962) * ''

The Great Paris Concert ''The Great Paris Concert'' is a 1973 live double album by jazz pianist Duke Ellington preserving pieces of a series of performances given in Paris during February 1963, a decade prior the release. Several of the tracks were previously edited a ...

'' (Atlantic, 1963) * ''

Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session ''Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1963 but not released on the Atlantic label until 1976.

'' (Atlantic, 1963) * '' My People'' (1963) * ''

Afro-Bossa ''Afro-Bossa'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Reprise Records, Reprise label in 1963.

'' (Reprise, 1963) * ''

The Symphonic Ellington ''The Symphonic Ellington'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Reprise label in 1963.Ellington '66 ''Ellington '66'' is an album by American pianist, composer, and bandleader Duke Ellington that was recorded and released on the Reprise Records, Reprise label in 1965.Concert in the Virgin Islands ''Concert in the Virgin Islands'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Reprise label in 1965.

'' (1966) * ''

In the Uncommon Market ''In the Uncommon Market'' is a live album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in Europe in 1963 and 1966 and released on the Pablo label in 1986.

'' (1966) With

* ''Horace Henderson 1940, Fletcher Henderson 1941'' (Classics, 1992) With

* ''Rosetta'' (Jazz Archives, 1937–1939 selections) * ''1937–1939'' (Classics, 1937–1939 performances) * ''Harlem Lament'' (Sony, 1937–1938 selections featuring Nance) * ''Piano Man!'' ( ASV, includes c. 1937–1939 RCA selections) * ''Earl Hines and the Duke's Men'' ( Delmark, 1944–1947 performances) * ''1942–1945'' (Classics, 1942–1945) With Johnny Hodges *''

Ellingtonia '56 ''Ellingtonia '56'' is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded in 1956 and released on the Norgran label.

'' ( Norgran, 1956) *''

Duke's in Bed ''Duke's in Bed'' is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1956 and released on the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1956) *'' The Big Sound'' (Verve, 1957) *''

Not So Dukish ''Not So Dukish'' is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances recorded in 1958 and released on the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1958) *''

Triple Play In baseball, a triple play (denoted as TP in baseball statistics) is the act of making three outs during the same play. There have only been 733 triple plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1876, an average of just over five per season. Th ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1967) With Budd Johnson *''

Budd Johnson and the Four Brass Giants ''Budd Johnson and the Four Brass Giants'' is an album by saxophonist Budd Johnson which was recorded in 1960 and released on the Riverside label. Reception Scott Yanow of AllMusic states, "The great Budd Johnson, who takes tenor solos throughou ...

'' (Riverside, 1960) With Joya Sherrill *'' Joya Sherrill Sings Duke'' (20th Century Fox, 1965)

Notes

References

External links

allmusic.com biography AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nance, Ray 1913 births 1976 deaths Singers from Chicago American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters American jazz violinists American male violinists American jazz singers Swing trumpeters Swing violinists Swing cornetists Duke Ellington Orchestra members Swing singers 20th-century American violinists 20th-century American singers Jazz musicians from Illinois American male jazz musicians Black Lion Records artists 20th-century American male musicians