Results for "Gerald Wiggins"

Gerald Wiggins

Born: May 12, 1922

Gerald Wiggins, born in Harlem, is a jazz pianist and organist. He studied classical, but switched to jazz in his teens. He began as a professional playing accompaniment to Stepin Fetchit. He has worked with Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter. In the 1940s he moved to Los Angeles where he played music for television and film. He has also worked with singers like Lena Horne, Kay Starr, Nat King Cole, Lou Rawls, Jimmy Witherspoon and Eartha Kitt. It was Wig that taught Marilyn Monroe how to sing for her movie roles. He is perhaps best known for his trio, the other two members being Andy Simpkins and Paul Humphrey

2022: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 29, 2022

Current events impacted the jazz world in significant ways throughout 2022. In its third year, the coronavirus pandemic continued to lurk in some settings, while others recovered in robust fashion. Russia's war on Ukraine was felt by musicians and triggered an outpouring of support for its victims. Initiatives to ensure greater equity in jazz advanced. The ...

Banding Together Against Segregation in Los Angeles

by Eve Goldberg
April 13, 2022

Once upon a time, jazz musicians in jny: Los Angeles led a groundbreaking struggle for racial justice and economic opportunity that sent ripples of change across the country. Most of us are aware of the seminal names and events of the civil rights era: Rosa Parks spearheading the Montgomery bus boycott; Martin Luther King ...

Impulse! Records: An Alternative Top 20 Zeitgeist Seizing Albums

by Chris May
July 2, 2020

There can be little argument that a jazz label ever captured a zeitgeist more completely than Impulse! did during its original 1960s incarnation. In the US, the fight back against white racism was cresting, opposition to the Vietnam war was growing, outrage over the assassinations of figures of hope such as President Kennedy, Martin Luther King ...

Art Pepper: The Art Pepper Quartet

by C. Michael Bailey
May 7, 2017

Omnivore Records has struck up a dandy relationship with Laurie Pepper and the Art Pepper Estate, resulting in an impressive discography, that when coupled with Laurie Pepper's own Widow's Taste Records, has provided fans many hours of previously unreleased music. First released by the label was the 2015 Neon Art Series: Volume 1, Volume 2, and ...

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gerald Wiggins

May 12, 2011

All About Jazz is celebrating Gerald Wiggins' birthday today! Gerald Wiggins, born in Harlem, is a jazz pianist and organist. He studied classical, but switched to jazz in his teens. He began as a professional playing accompaniment to Stepin Fetchit. He has worked with Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter. In the 1940s he moved to Los ...

Live At The Jazz Bakery

Featuring the music of Gerald Wiggins
Duration: 4:27
May 12, 2011

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gerald Wiggins

May 12, 2010

All About Jazz is celebrating Gerald Wiggins' birthday today! JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Gerald WigginsGerald Wiggins, born in Harlem, is a jazz pianist and organist. He studied classical, but switched to jazz in his teens. He began as a professional playing accompaniment to Stepin Fetchit... more ...

Betty Bryant: No Regrets

by Dee Dee McNeil
February 5, 2010

Fondly referred to as the “Cool Miss B," Betty Bryant is a native of Kansas City who relocated to Los Angeles in 1955. One of a thimble full of stalwart female pianists and vocal stylists, Bryant packed the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood in November, 2009 to celebrate the release of her appropriately titled No Regrets ...

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gerald Wiggins

May 12, 2009

All About Jazz is celebrating Gerald Wiggins' birthday today! JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Gerald WigginsGerald Wiggins, born in Harlem, is a jazz pianist and organist. He studied classical, but switched to jazz in his teens. He began as a professional playing accompaniment to Stepin Fetchit... more ...