|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZELDRIDGE, Roy(b 30 January 1911, Pittsburgh PA; d 26 February 1989, NY) Trumpet; also played piano, bass, drums, sang; nicknamed 'Little Jazz' by Otto Hardwick. Lessons from elder brother Joe (b 1908, Pittsburgh; d 5 March 1952, NYC), who played alto sax and violin; first gig a New Year's Eve job with Joe when almost seven years old. He worked for Horace Henderson, Elmer Snowden, Teddy Hill, Fletcher Henderson, others during the 1930s; quit music to study radio engineering '38 but led own band late that year, by then famous among musicians for ideas, power and technique, his trumpet style influenced by saxophonists, in turn as influential as Louis Armstrong's had been ten years before, e.g. on young Dizzy Gillespie. He earned more widespread fame as a featured soloist with Gene Krupa '41-3: played drums occasionally while Krupa fronted; his vocal duet with Anita O'Day on 'Let Me Off Uptown' was a no. 10 hit for Krupa '41. He had own band again '43, CBS staff work '44, with Artie Shaw '44-5, own big band '46, later small group. Rejoined Krupa '49, first JATP tour '49-50, Europe with Benny Goodman '50, then toured there solo. Own quintet at Birdland NYC '51; from then on led small groups, often co-leading with Coleman Hawkins; freelanced solo, toured with JATP, many festivals. Also played flugelhorn from late '50s. With small group accompanying Ella Fitzgerald '63-5, appeared at President Carter's White House jazz party '78. Played at Jimmy Ryan's club NYC regularly; had heart attack '80, appeared as vocalist '80s. Heckler's Hop on Hep compiles '36-9 sides; After You've Gone on GRP/Decca '36-46. Countless later albums include Dale's Wail '53-4 with Oscar Peterson and quartet session with Art Tatum '55 on Verve; The Trumpet Battle 1952 with Charlie Shavers and Lester Young was on Verve/Polydor, Rockin' Chair on Verve USA. Mexican Bandit Meets Pittsburgh Pirate was with Paul Gonsalves. He was a favourite of Norman Granz: albums on Pablo included Montreux '77, Happy, Little Jazz And Jimmy Ryan All-Stars, Jazz Maturity '75 with Gillespie and Peterson, What It's All About, others. |