Jazz Musician. A native of Oakland, California, he attended elementary schools in both his hometown and in in Berkeley, California. He gave his first music performance while still in grade school. In 1940, he graduated from the Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California, and by 1949, he was playing professionally. A self-taught musician he played the likes of folk, calypso, ballads, jazz, and the blues. In the 1950s, he went to San Francisco, California, where he played the nightclub scene for awhile, and then traveled around the United States touring, including stops in Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Reno, Nevada, and Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1946, he married his first wife, Roberta, but they were divorced in 1952. In 1953, he again got married to Tamar Hodel. In 1970, he stopped playing the club circuit, but he did continue to work and enjoy family life. A veteran of World War II, he served as a Steward in the United States Merchant Marines. He passed away in Berkeley, California, from the effects of heart disease, at the age of 83.
Jazz Musician. A native of Oakland, California, he attended elementary schools in both his hometown and in in Berkeley, California. He gave his first music performance while still in grade school. In 1940, he graduated from the Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California, and by 1949, he was playing professionally. A self-taught musician he played the likes of folk, calypso, ballads, jazz, and the blues. In the 1950s, he went to San Francisco, California, where he played the nightclub scene for awhile, and then traveled around the United States touring, including stops in Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Reno, Nevada, and Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1946, he married his first wife, Roberta, but they were divorced in 1952. In 1953, he again got married to Tamar Hodel. In 1970, he stopped playing the club circuit, but he did continue to work and enjoy family life. A veteran of World War II, he served as a Steward in the United States Merchant Marines. He passed away in Berkeley, California, from the effects of heart disease, at the age of 83.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
Inscription
STEWARD USMM
WORLD WAR II
HIS FAMILY PLUS HIS
MUSIC LIVES ON
Family Members
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