Jazz Musician, Bandleader, Composer. Born into a musical family, he sang and danced with the Pettiford Family Band from childhood. After starting piano lessons, he switched to the double bass when he was 14. In 1942 he joined Charlie Barnet's band. During this period he recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines and Ben Webster, and in 1944 he co-directed an early bop group with Dizzy Gillespie. He played with Duke Ellington's orchestra from 1945 to 1948 and with Woody Herman in 1949. Influenced by fellow bassists Jimmy Blanton and Milt Hinton, he helped bring the double bass to the foreground as a solo jazz instrument. Throughout the 1950s he worked mostly as a leader (on bass and occasionally on cello). In 1958 he traveled to Europe with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and he settled in Copenhagen where he played in Montmarte Jazz House working with Stan Getz, Jan Johansson, Bud Powell and local musicians. Among his better-known compositions are "Tricotism", "Bohemia After Dark" and "Swingin' Till the Girls Come Home". During the two years he lived in Copenhagen, up to his untimely death, he was a great inspiration to Danish musicians. A street in Copenhagen has been named after him.
Jazz Musician, Bandleader, Composer. Born into a musical family, he sang and danced with the Pettiford Family Band from childhood. After starting piano lessons, he switched to the double bass when he was 14. In 1942 he joined Charlie Barnet's band. During this period he recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines and Ben Webster, and in 1944 he co-directed an early bop group with Dizzy Gillespie. He played with Duke Ellington's orchestra from 1945 to 1948 and with Woody Herman in 1949. Influenced by fellow bassists Jimmy Blanton and Milt Hinton, he helped bring the double bass to the foreground as a solo jazz instrument. Throughout the 1950s he worked mostly as a leader (on bass and occasionally on cello). In 1958 he traveled to Europe with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and he settled in Copenhagen where he played in Montmarte Jazz House working with Stan Getz, Jan Johansson, Bud Powell and local musicians. Among his better-known compositions are "Tricotism", "Bohemia After Dark" and "Swingin' Till the Girls Come Home". During the two years he lived in Copenhagen, up to his untimely death, he was a great inspiration to Danish musicians. A street in Copenhagen has been named after him.
Bio by: Erik Skytte
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Pettiford memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
