Home » History of Jazz Timeline: 1909
History of Jazz Timeline: 1909
Tenor saxophone innovator Coleman Hawkins begins playing the piano at age five.
Tenor saxophone innovator Lester Young is born in Woodville, Mississippi on August 27. Lester's family moved to New Orleans and Lester toured the midwest as a child with his father Billy's barnstorming band.
Tenor saxophone great Ben Webster is born in Kansas City, MO on February 27. At some future date, Ben will save his rival Lester Young from drowning.
Benny Goodman is born in the Maxwell street ghetto in Chicago to Russian immigrant parents on May 30.
Drummer Gene Krupa is born in Chicago. He is the first to use and record with a full drumset in the 1920's with Eddie Condon. He will become a wild, flashy Swing Era icon who leads his own popular big band after skyrocketing to fame with Benny Goodman. He will be the drummer on "Sing, Sing, Sing" at Carnegie Hall in 1938. He will feature Roy Eldridge, Anita O'Day and Gerry Mulligan in his big band in 1940's. He will lead small groups and tour with JATP through 1950's. He will co-own a drum school in NYC with Cozy Cole.
Blues publishing pioneer W.C. Handy brings saxophones into his dance band.
Trombone player Dickie Wells of the Basie band is born in Tennessee on June 10.
Progressive Swing band leader Claude Thornhill is born in Terra Haute, IN on August 10.
Trumpeter Roland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan is born in Fox Lake, Wisconsin.
Trumpeter Jonah Jones born in Louisville, KY.
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Disclaimer: Though we have checked our facts, this timeline may contain erroneous information. If you discover errors or omissions, please bring them to our attention.
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