Abbott and Costello
Teaming up in 1931, Abbott And Costello were in vaudeville before gaining success in radio, films and television. Bud Abbott (b. William A. Abbott, 2 October 1895, Asbury Park, New ...
Al Porcino
B. 14 May 1925, New York City, New York, USA. While still in his teenage years, Porcino joined the Louis Prima band where his high-note trumpet playing attracted excited attention. ...
Alan Parker
B. 1944, Matlock, Derbyshire, England. At one time a member of Blue Mink, Alan Parker decided early in his career that more fruitful rewards lay outside of the celebrity pop ...
Alton Moore
B. 7 October 1908, Selma, Alabama, USA, d. 1978, New York City, New York, USA. After being taught formally on baritone horn, Alton ‘Slim’ Moore took up the trombone and ...
Alvin Stoller
B. 7 October 1925, New York City, USA, d. 19 October 1992, Los Angeles, California, USA. Taking up the drums as a child, Stoller’s dues were paid while he was ...
Annisteen Allen
B. Ernestine Letitia Allen, 11 November 1920, Champaign, Illinois, USA, d. 10 August 1992, Harlem, New York, USA. Raised by her grandmother in Toledo, Ohio, Allen was an exceptionally soulful ...
Anthony Ortega
B. Anthony Robert Ortega, 7 June 1928, Los Angeles, California, USA. After becoming proficient on clarinet and alto saxophone, Ortega began playing professionally in the late 40s. He worked with ...
Art Van Damme
B. 9 April 1920, Norway, Michigan, USA. Raised in Chicago, Illinois, Van Damme heard accordion played on records when he was aged nine, liked the sound and asked for one. ...
Benny Carter
B. Bennett Lester Carter, 8 August 1907, New York City, New York, USA, d. 12 July 2003, Los Angeles, California, USA. Carter was born and raised in the area of ...
Bill Beason
B. William Beason, 1908, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Beason began playing drums while still in high school and in the mid-20s, while attending college, he joined a band led by Horace ...
Bill Doggett
B. 16 February 1916, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 13 November 1996, New York City, New York, USA. In 1938 pianist Doggett formed his first band, partly drawing his sidemen from ...
Bill Potts
B. William Orie Potts, 3 April 1928, Arlington, Virginia, USA, d. 16 February 2005, Plantation, Florida, USA. Potts displayed musical ability from an early age, playing Hawaiian guitar and accordion ...
Bill Trujillo
B. 7 July 1930, Los Angeles, California, USA. Trujillo was taught to read music and to play clarinet while still a small child, but when he was aged only four ...
Billie Holiday
1915–1959)Black US jazz singer, often described as the greatest true jazz singer of all time.Born in Baltimore, she was called ‘Billie’ after a film star. Her father, Clarence Holiday (1900–37), ...
Billy May
B. Edward William May, 10 November 1916, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 22 January 2004, San Juan Capistrano, California, USA. Although May is best known to international audiences for his ...
Billy Reid
B. William Gordon Reid, 19 September 1902, Southampton, Hampshire, England, d. 12 December 1974, Southampton, Hampshire, England. A popular composer and lyricist in the 40s, Reid was a self-taught ...
Bobby Lewis
B. 23 January 1936, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. After studying music extensively, mainly at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Lewis became a professional musician, playing trumpet with Dave ...
Bobby Stark
B. 6 January 1906, New York City, New York, USA, d. 29 December 1945, New York City, New York, USA. After learning to play several instruments Stark settled on trumpet ...
Carmen McRae
B. 8 April 1920, New York City, New York, USA, d. 10 November 1994, Beverly Hills, California, USA. One of the best American jazz singers, McRae was also an accomplished ...
Carol Akerson
B. 25 March 1955, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA. From an early age, Akerson took an interest in music, singing in church choirs, in musical theatre and for classical choral works. ...
