JAZZ Musicians

Trumpeter / Singer

Monte Easter

* December 15, 1913 in Coffeyville, USA
✝ December 25, 2000 in Los Angeles, USA

(Isadore Leonidas) Monte Easter, a notable Kansas City jazz musician, was born in 1913 in Coffeyville, Kansas, and passed away in December 2000 in Los Angeles, California​​​​. His musical journey began with training at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music under Jimmy Stamps. Easter’s style and sound significantly influenced and contributed to the careers of many popular musicians. He worked with a diverse array of artists, including guitarist Jimmy Nolan, singers Gloria Shannon and Judy Canova, pianist Jay McShann, and saxophonist Hubert Allen, among others​​​​.

Easter’s career saw several notable milestones. In 1946, he worked with singer Mary DePina for Aladdin Records, resulting in four songs that earned a place in the Billboard Encyclopedia of Hit Recordings​​.

By 1951, he had signed with Lew Chudd’s Imperial Records and, with his band, the Harlem Swingsters, released records like “I’m Hunched.” His work continued with various labels, including the Discovery label and Aladdin label, where he recorded tracks like “After Dark” and “Blues in the Evening,” which received positive reviews from Billboard​​.

Later in his career, after a brief retirement and a stint at the Post Office, Easter returned to music in the 1980s. He formed “Kansas City Jazz,” featuring various musicians and himself on trumpet. He also founded his own label, “Intrigue,” releasing several compilations like “I Was Mad,” “Do the Hoosie Doosie,” and “Sounds of Kansas City”​​.

Easter’s contribution to jazz and his unique style made him a significant figure in the Kansas City jazz scene, leaving a lasting impact on the genre and the artists he collaborated with throughout his career.

EMPTY BED BLUES (1946)

Blues Rhythm (May 2002) – Monte Easter

Pianist & Vocalist

Bob Howard

* June 20, 1906, in Newton, USA
✝ December 24, 2000, in New York, USA

Bob Howard, born Howard Joyner, was an American pianist and vocalist known for his work in swing music in the 1930s. He was born on June 20, 1906, in Newton, Massachusetts, though another source suggests June 20, 1897, as his birth date. Howard began his career singing in New York night clubs in the mid-1920s and started recording in 1931 under his real name for Columbia Records.

Under the stage name Bob Howard, he performed at prominent New York venues such as Park Central Hotel, Famous Door, Hickory House, and various theaters. In late 1934, he signed with Decca Records and recorded a series of swing records between 1935 and 1938, collaborating with notable musicians like Benny Carter, Buster Bailey, and Teddy Wilson. Although known for his piano skills, Howard focused solely on singing in his Decca recordings.

Howard also ventured into radio and television. He had his own radio series in New York in the 1930s and made appearances in short films between 1936 and 1947. In 1948, he made history by hosting The Bob Howard Show on CBS, becoming the first African-American to host a regularly broadcast network TV show, although the show was short-lived. He was also a regular performer on CBS-TV’s Sing It Again in 1950-1951.

Later, Howard relocated to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He passed away on December 3, 1986, in the Bronx, New York​.

LOST MY RHYTHM, LOST MY MUSIC, LOST MY MAN (1935)

Crooner & Jazz Guitarist

Nick Lucas

* August 22, 1897, in Newark, USA
✝ July 28, 1982, in Colorado Springs, USA

Nick Lucas, born Dominic Nicholas Anthony Lucanese on August 22, 1897, in Newark, New Jersey, was a pioneering American jazz singer and guitarist. He began his musical career early, learning guitar, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele, and started performing for money as a child. By 25, Lucas gained fame with hits like “Pickin’ the Guitar” and “Teasin’ the Frets,” becoming the first jazz guitarist to record solo. His signature song, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” influenced future musicians like Tiny Tim.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Lucas was a key figure in the music industry, recording with Brunswick Records and introducing innovations in guitar design with Gibson Guitars. His collaboration led to the creation of the “Nick Lucas Special,” a guitar model that influenced the design of the Gibson Les Paul. Despite offers from major studios like Warner Bros., Lucas spent most of his career in radio, nightclubs, and recording for various labels.

Lucas continued to perform and record music throughout his life, becoming a beloved figure in American popular music. He passed away on July 28, 1982, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, just weeks before his 85th birthday, leaving behind a legacy as a groundbreaking musician and “the crooning Troubadour” of the jazz world​​​​​​​​.

Tip-Toe Thru’ the Tulips with Me (1929)

Guitarist

Tony Mottola

* April 18, 1918, in Kearny, New Jersey, USA
✝ August 9, 2004, in Denville (New Jersey), USA

Tony Mottola, a renowned American jazz guitarist, was born on April 18, 1918, in Kearny, New Jersey. His career spanned several decades, during which he released numerous solo albums and became known for his session work with the producer Enoch Light’s Command label and Project 3 label. Mottola began playing the guitar at the age of nine and continued to hone his skills throughout his life, leaving a significant mark on the music industry.

Mottola’s professional journey was diverse and accomplished. He made his recording debut with George Hall’s orchestra, performing on the track “Shine.” In 1941, he joined the CBS radio studio orchestra, where he played behind icons like Frank Sinatra and Raymond Scott. He was also Perry Como’s long-time accompanist and created the music score for Yul Brynner’s television series “Danger.” His solo album “Mr. Big” was released in 1959, and he later joined Doc Severinsen’s Orchestra on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.”

One of Mottola’s most notable accomplishments was his score for the early CBS suspense anthology series, “Danger.” The theme he composed was known for its simplicity and effectiveness, featuring a single repeated note interrupted by a dramatic chord. This theme earned Mottola a spot in the record books as the composer of the first original soundtrack album from a television show. His relationship with Enoch Light was particularly significant, leading to over 30 album recordings on the Command and Project 3 labels. Mottola’s style was characterized by its warmth, tenderness, and expressiveness, never hitting a bad note.

In addition to his solo work, Mottola collaborated with numerous artists, contributing to a variety of albums across different genres. His collaborations included working with Ray Charles, Urbie Green, Dick Hyman, and many others. His albums, like “Tony’s Touch” and “Roman Guitar,” showcase his versatility and mastery of the guitar.

Despite retiring from touring in 1988, Mottola never lost his passion for music. He continued to play the guitar almost every day, believing that music kept his mind sharp. Sadly, Tony Mottola passed away on August 9, 2004, due to complications from a stroke and double pneumonia. He left behind a legacy of exceptional guitar work and a significant contribution to the music industry​​​​​​.

Coquette (1946)

Trumpeter / Singer / Composer

Sy Oliver

* December 17, 1910, in Battle Creek (MI), USA
✝ May 28, 1988, in New York, USA

Sy Oliver, born on December 17, 1910, in Battle Creek, Michigan, was a renowned American jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. His musical journey began under the influence of his mother, a piano teacher, and his father, a multi-instrumentalist known for demonstrating saxophones. At 17, Oliver embarked on his career, joining bands like Zack Whyte’s Chocolate Beau Brummels and Alphonse Trent’s band, where he became known for his “growling” trumpet playing and arranging skills.

In 1933, he joined Jimmie Lunceford’s band, contributing as a trumpet player, arranger, and songwriter. His arrangements for Lunceford, like “My Blue Heaven” and “Ain’t She Sweet”, were notable, as was his original composition “For Dancers Only,” which became the band’s theme song. His work with Lunceford showcased innovation and originality, rivaling even Duke Ellington’s.

Oliver’s career took a significant turn in 1939 when he joined Tommy Dorsey’s band, becoming one of the first African Americans with a prominent role in a white band. With Dorsey, his arrangement of “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and compositions like “Yes, Indeed!” and “Opus One” were hits. He left Dorsey in 1946 to work as a freelance arranger and music director for Decca Records.

Among his notable works during this period were recording the first American version of “C’est si bon” and “La Vie en rose” for Louis Armstrong in 1950 and arranging for the Frank Sinatra album “I Remember Tommy” in 1961. He continued his musical endeavors at the Rainbow Room in New York from 1974 until his retirement in 1984.

Sy Oliver passed away on May 28, 1988, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering jazz musician and arranger.

FOR DANCERS ONLY (1950)