Clark Terry
Gwen Terry (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520268463
- eISBN:
- 9780520949782
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520268463.001.0001
- Subject:
- Music, History, American
This is the story of one of the most recorded jazz trumpeters of all time, Clark Terry, born in 1920. Thi sbook takes us from his impoverished childhood in St. Louis, Missouri, where jazz could be ...
More
This is the story of one of the most recorded jazz trumpeters of all time, Clark Terry, born in 1920. Thi sbook takes us from his impoverished childhood in St. Louis, Missouri, where jazz could be heard everywhere, to the smoke-filled small clubs and carnivals across the Jim Crow South where he got his start, and on to worldwide acclaim. The book takes us behind the scenes of jazz history as it introduces scores of legendary greats—Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Doc Severinsen, Ray Charles, Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Coleman Hawkins, Zoot Sims, and Dianne Reeves, among many others. The book also reveals much about Terry's own personal life, his experiences with racism, how he helped break the color barrier in 1960 when he joined the Tonight Show band on NBC, and why—at ninety years old—his students from around the world still call and visit him for lessons.Less
This is the story of one of the most recorded jazz trumpeters of all time, Clark Terry, born in 1920. Thi sbook takes us from his impoverished childhood in St. Louis, Missouri, where jazz could be heard everywhere, to the smoke-filled small clubs and carnivals across the Jim Crow South where he got his start, and on to worldwide acclaim. The book takes us behind the scenes of jazz history as it introduces scores of legendary greats—Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Doc Severinsen, Ray Charles, Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Coleman Hawkins, Zoot Sims, and Dianne Reeves, among many others. The book also reveals much about Terry's own personal life, his experiences with racism, how he helped break the color barrier in 1960 when he joined the Tonight Show band on NBC, and why—at ninety years old—his students from around the world still call and visit him for lessons.
Gwen Terry
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520268463
- eISBN:
- 9780520949782
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520268463.003.0045
- Subject:
- Music, History, American
Clark, as a part of the Tonight Show and the gigs, made good money, with which he wanted to buy a house in Queens, which he did. Clark, in this chapter, describes the kind of racism he had to put up ...
More
Clark, as a part of the Tonight Show and the gigs, made good money, with which he wanted to buy a house in Queens, which he did. Clark, in this chapter, describes the kind of racism he had to put up with, for buying as well as living in that house. Eventually, Clark and his wife made a place for themselves in the neighborhood. Clark managed to keep his gig playing with Bob Brookmeyer at the Half Note after the Tonight Show. Clark also describes his strained relationship with his son, Hiawatha. So much that Hiawatha was sent back to St. Louis. Clark describes this phase of his life as a living through a horrible nightmare. This was also the time when Clark changed his image about his father, realizing that what he did was right.Less
Clark, as a part of the Tonight Show and the gigs, made good money, with which he wanted to buy a house in Queens, which he did. Clark, in this chapter, describes the kind of racism he had to put up with, for buying as well as living in that house. Eventually, Clark and his wife made a place for themselves in the neighborhood. Clark managed to keep his gig playing with Bob Brookmeyer at the Half Note after the Tonight Show. Clark also describes his strained relationship with his son, Hiawatha. So much that Hiawatha was sent back to St. Louis. Clark describes this phase of his life as a living through a horrible nightmare. This was also the time when Clark changed his image about his father, realizing that what he did was right.
Gwen Terry
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520268463
- eISBN:
- 9780520949782
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520268463.003.0044
- Subject:
- Music, History, American
In this chapter, Clark shares his experience on the show; where Johnny played a popular game called “Stump the Band,” on the Tonight Show. The requests from the audience were named “mumbles” by Clark ...
More
In this chapter, Clark shares his experience on the show; where Johnny played a popular game called “Stump the Band,” on the Tonight Show. The requests from the audience were named “mumbles” by Clark Terry, as this described how they sounded to him. Later, he recorded “mumbles” with Bob Brookmeyer. “Mumbles” became popular among musicians, as well as the audience. Bob Brookmeyer and Clark developed a mutual admiration for each other and they loved playing together, so much so that they got a little group together in the early 1960s and named it the Clark Terry/Bob Brookmeyer Quintet and got a nice gig going at the Half Note. They recorded many albums together and won the DownBeat Jazz Critics Poll award. “Mumbles” was nominated for the Grammy and became the most requested tune of Clark's career.Less
In this chapter, Clark shares his experience on the show; where Johnny played a popular game called “Stump the Band,” on the Tonight Show. The requests from the audience were named “mumbles” by Clark Terry, as this described how they sounded to him. Later, he recorded “mumbles” with Bob Brookmeyer. “Mumbles” became popular among musicians, as well as the audience. Bob Brookmeyer and Clark developed a mutual admiration for each other and they loved playing together, so much so that they got a little group together in the early 1960s and named it the Clark Terry/Bob Brookmeyer Quintet and got a nice gig going at the Half Note. They recorded many albums together and won the DownBeat Jazz Critics Poll award. “Mumbles” was nominated for the Grammy and became the most requested tune of Clark's career.
Gwen Terry
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520268463
- eISBN:
- 9780520949782
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520268463.003.0050
- Subject:
- Music, History, American
In this chapter, Clark describes his association with the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the time that he got off the Tonight Show. He began visiting Gerry and his band played with it on ...
More
In this chapter, Clark describes his association with the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the time that he got off the Tonight Show. He began visiting Gerry and his band played with it on dates for commercials around town for months. Gerry's band was very different because they didn't play the ordinary run of arrangements. They played his original things. Clark played with them for four years whenever he could. Together, they did few concerts and shows for college students. This gave Clark the real thrill. With the NBC recordings; Clark's schedule was jam-packed. Clark's schedule included recordings, gigs, dinners, and parties. It was a whirlwind, but Clark loved what he was doing, and that's what kept him going.Less
In this chapter, Clark describes his association with the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the time that he got off the Tonight Show. He began visiting Gerry and his band played with it on dates for commercials around town for months. Gerry's band was very different because they didn't play the ordinary run of arrangements. They played his original things. Clark played with them for four years whenever he could. Together, they did few concerts and shows for college students. This gave Clark the real thrill. With the NBC recordings; Clark's schedule was jam-packed. Clark's schedule included recordings, gigs, dinners, and parties. It was a whirlwind, but Clark loved what he was doing, and that's what kept him going.
