Randy Kaye

Born on May 20, 1947 in Brooklyn, N.Y.,Randy grew up in a household where music was a part of life.The son of Alan Kaye, a saxophone player in many big bands and his mother Leona was also a jazz singer. Randy took uo the saxophone at a young age. When young Randy was sick with rheumatic fever Rhis father bought him a set of drums and he never looked back. Randy attended schools in Brooklyn and was a golden glove boxer,played baseball and ran track. Kaye was asked to cut his hair in high school and when he refused he was expelled. Mr. Kaye,a lifelong musician began playing professionally when he was only 15 years old! He started sitting in with players like Kenny Dorham and Roland Kirk and even sat in with Duke Ellington once. would have his father pick him up at the clubs after a gig. Randy was eventually hired by Tony Scott to play in his band along with Paul Chambers and Jaki Byard. Shortly after he was introduced to clarinetist Perry Robinson and Dave Izenson and went on to form the Unitrio band. Randy was also working with vocalist Sheila Jordan and in early 1969 he became the drummer for Jimi Hendrix, who was putting together a new band, favoring more experimental instrumental music. Randy Kaye was part of the "Gypsy Sun and Rainbows Band"and play with Jimi at the famed "Tinker St. gig" Jimi Hendrix's manager put an end to that project shortly before the Woodstock festival in August of that year. It was at this time that Randy joined renowned jazz musician and composer, Jimmy Giuffre whom he would play with for the next 25 years. It was Jimmy Giuffre that brought Randy to the Berkshires of Massachusetts where he lived and played for the rest of his life. Randy enjoyed spending time in Europe and toured with the French based band,"3 Windows"which included Remi Charmasson and Andre Jaume. He was an adjunct professor at New York University. Randy was a very active teacher in New England and taught at both Williams and Simon's Rock Colleges. Randy was also instructor at Rock On band camp at Berkshire Community College and maintained many private students in his home.His students will fondly remember Randy's greeting, "hey, maestro." A member of the Irish Sister City Jazz ambassadors, he traveled to Ireland in 2007 to spread the jazz love.Randy recorded more than a dozen albums with various musicians throughout his career.

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