Jazz Greats: Gerald Wilson

Gerald Stanley Wilson (Sept. 4, 1918 – Sept. 8, 2014)

Jazz Trumpeter, Big Bandleader, Composer, Arranger and Educator, Gerald Wilson, wrote arrangements for many (Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and others). He led Big Bands during the mid-1940's and also formed a critically acclaimed Band in 1960. He released many regarded Albums, hosted a Radio show during the 1970's and taught at California State University, CAL Arts and the University of California. He died in 2014; please take a listen here and have a great Saturday: You better believe it and Moment of truth (full Album 1962)

Source 1: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Wilson

Source 2: https://www.discogs.com/artist/341422-Gerald-Wilson-Orchestra

Background information
Birth name	Gerald Stanley Wilson
Born	September 4, 1918 Shelby, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	September 8, 2014(aged 96) Los Angeles
Genres	Jazz, pop
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, bandleader
Instruments	Trumpet
Years active	1938–2014
Labels	Capitol, Pacific Jazz, Discovery
Associated acts	Nancy Wilson,Sarah Vaughan,Jimmy Lunceford

Yusef Lateef

Yusef Abdul Lateef (born

William Emanuel Huddleston; October 9, 1920 – December 23, 2013)

Jazz Multi-instrumentalist (Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Piano, Shehnai, Shafar, Arghul and Koto), Composer and Author, Yusef Lateef, is regarded for his blending of Jazz and Eastern Music. He was the owner of Yol Records and Fana Music (a music publishing company). He released regarded works and was also a Session Musician for others. He died in 2013; please take a listen here and have an enjoyable weekend: Morning, The Golden Flute and Happyology

Source 1: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusef_Lateef

Source 2: https://www.discogs.com/artist/167055-Yusef-Lateef

Background information
Birth name	William Emanuel Huddleston
Also known as	Yusef Lateef
Born	October 9, 1920 Chattanooga, Tennessee United States
Died	December 23, 2013(aged 93) Shutesbury, Massachusetts United States
Genres	New-age music,jazz, post-bop, jazz fusion, swing, hard bop, third stream,world music
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, educator, spokesman, author
Instruments	Tenor saxophone,flute, oboe,bassoon, bamboo flute, shehnai,shofar, arghul, koto,piano, vocals.
Years active	1955–2013
Labels	Savoy, Prestige,Verve, Riverside,Impulse, Atlantic,CTI, YAL Records
Associated acts	Cannonball Adderley

Ska Thursdays: Jackie Opel

Dalton Sinclair Bishop (Born 1938 Chapman Lane,

Bridgetown , Barbados - Died 1970 Barbados)

Ska, R&B, Soul, Gospel and Calypso Singer, Jackie Opel, invented Spouge Music (a fusion of Ska, Calypso and R&B music). He released many singles during the 1960's after being discovered by Byron Lee (of the Dragonaires), but his career was cut short when he died in a car crash in 1970 at aged 32 years old. Please take a listen here and Happy Ska Thursday: The mill man and Cry me a river

Source 1: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Opel

Source 2: https://www.discogs.com/artist/386488-Jackie-Opel

Source 3: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spouge

Background information
Name: Dalton Sinclair Bishop  Born: 1938 Died: Mar 09, 1970 Origin: Bridgetown, Barbados Label: King, Island, Studio One

  

The Mary Kaye Trio

The Mary Kaye Trio

Mary Kaye (January 9, 1924

Detroit, Michigan – February 17, 2007 Las Vegas, Nevada)

The Mary Kaye Trio was led by the "The First Lady of Rock and Roll", Guitarist and Performer, Mary Kaye, and also included Frank Ross and Mary Kaye. They founded the Las Vegas "Lounge Phenomenon" (All night party with stars and fans ) in 1953. Their bulk of work ran between the 1950's and the 1960's. Mary Kaye died in 2007; please take a listen here and have a nice Wednesday: Just one of those things, The Monkey song and My funny valentine

Source 1: https://www.discogs.com/artist/1775054-The-Mary-Kaye-Trio

Source 2: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Kaye

Background information
Name: Mary Kaye Trio  Origin: US Labels: Brunswick, Decca, Warner Bros Records, Verve, Columbia Members: Mary Kaye, Norman Kaye and Frank Ross

Hip Hop Tuesdays: MF Grimm

Percy Carey (born 11 June 1970)

Underground Rapper, Music Producer, CEO and Comic Book Writer, MF Grimm, began his career with a 4 year stint on Sesame Street from aged 5 to 9. He then became active in Hip Hop in the 1980's, formed the Group the Gravediggaz in the 1990's and also had a solo career. He was shot in 1994, and after recovering had to use a wheelchair. Please take a listen here and Happy Hip Hop Tuesday: So Whatcha you want Nigga

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MF_Grimm

Background information
Birth name	Percy Carey
Also known as	Grandmaster Grimm GM Grimm The Grimm Reaper Superstar Jet Jaguar Build and Destroy
Born	June 11, 1970(age 48) Manhattan, New York
Genres	Hip hop,Underground Hip Hop
Occupation(s)	Music producer,rapper, CEO, comic book writer, actor
Years active	1975–present
Labels	Day By Day Entertainment, Vendetta Vinyl,Fondle Em Records
Associated acts	MF Doom, Drasar Monumental, Kool G Rap, KRS-One,Roc Raida, Large Professor, Kurious,Monsta Island Czars

Tribute Mondays: Chu Berry

Leon Brown Berry (September 13, 1908 – October 30, 1941)

Jazz Tenor Saxophonist, Chu Berry, worked during the 1930's in numerous Swing Bands. He was a Sideman to Bessie Smith, The Chocolate Dandies, Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton and others. He also influenced Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. He died in a car accident in 1941 at aged 33 years old. Thanks for your contribution Mr. Berry, you are appreciated. Please take a listen here and have an exciting Monday: Now You're Talking My Language (1937) and Indiana (1937)

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_Berry

Background information
Birth name	Leon Brown Berry
Born	September 13, 1908 Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
Died	October 30, 1941(aged 33) Conneaut, Ohio
Genres	Jazz, swing
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Tenor saxophone
Years active	1930s
Associated acts	Fletcher Henderson, Cab Calloway

Alma Julia Hightower

Alma Julia Hightower (Nov. 27, 1888 - Aug. 1, 1970)

Vocalist, Musician (Saxophone, Drums and Piano), Composer, Bandleader and Music Teacher, Alma Julia Hightower, was a main force in the music industry between the 1920's and mid 1960's. She taught thousands, with many becoming renown performers (Charles Mingus, Illinois Jacquet, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt and others). Her body of work is missing from YouTube. Please take a listen to two of her students here and have a relaxing Sunday: Insomnia (Melba Liston) and Moanin' (Charles Mingus)

Source : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma_Julia_Hightower

Background Information
Born	Alma Julia Webster 27 November 1888 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Died	1 August 1970(aged 81) Los Angeles, California, USA
Nationality	African American
Other names	Mrs. Alma Hightower
Occupation	Musician, Vocalist, Teacher, Composer, Band Leader
Known for	teaching many students w