Lee Young
Leonidas Raymond Young (March 7, 1914 – July 31, 2008) was an American jazz drummer and singer.[1] His musical family included his father Willis Young and his older brother, saxophonist Lester Young. In 1944 he played with Norman Granz's first "Jazz at the Philharmonic" concert.
Early life and education[]
Young was born in 1914 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Willis Young and Lizetta Teresa Johnson. His father was a musician, as were other relatives. His older brother Lester Young became a famed saxophonist. Lee began playing from an early age and the family had a band for several years.[1]
Career[]
In 1944 Lee Young was the drummer at Norman Granz's first "Jazz at the Philharmonic" concert,[2] which also featured guitarist Les Paul, trombonist J.J. Johnson, and saxophonist Jean-Baptiste "Illinois" Jacquet.
Young played with such jazz and swing music notables as Mutt Carey, Fats Waller, Les Hite, Benny Goodman, and Lionel Hampton. In the 1950s Young played with Nat King Cole's trio. From the 1960s on, he worked as an artist & repertory man for such record labels as Vee-Jay and Motown.[3]
Discography[]
- Nat King Cole, Penthouse Serenade (Capitol, 1955)
- Nat King Cole, After Midnight (Capitol, 1956)
- Nat King Cole, The Piano Style of Nat King Cole (Capitol, 1956)
- Nat King Cole, At the Sands (Capitol, 1966)
- Benny Goodman, Mostly Sextets (Capitol, 1950)
- Lionel Hampton, Lionel Hampton with the Just Jazz All Stars (GNP, 1955)
- Oscar Moore, Jazz 1940 Era (Tampa, 1956)
- Andre Previn, Previn at Sunset (Black Lion, 1972)
- Dinah Washington, Mellow Mama (Delmark, 1992)
Notes[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Marl Young; Bryant, Clora; Buddy Collete; Green, William A.; Isoardi, Steven Louis; Jack Kelson; Tapscott, Horace; Wilson, Gerald Henry (1999). Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles (Roth Family Foundation Book in American Music). Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 51. ISBN 0-520-22098-6.
- ^ Marl Young; Bryant, Clora; Buddy Collete; Green, William A.; Isoardi, Steven Louis; Jack Kelson; Tapscott, Horace; Wilson, Gerald Henry (1999). Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles (Roth Family Foundation Book in American Music). Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 63. ISBN 0-520-22098-6.
- ^ Vacher, Peter (2008-08-22). "Obituary: Lee Young". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
External links[]
- Interview with Lee Young, Center for Oral History Research, UCLA Library Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles
- Lee Young's obituary in The New York Times
- 1914 births
- 2008 deaths
- Jazz musicians from New Orleans
- American jazz drummers
- American jazz singers
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century American drummers
- American male drummers
- Singers from Louisiana
- 20th-century American male musicians
- American male jazz musicians
- American jazz drummer stubs
- American jazz singer stubs