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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 ZAMMONS, Gene(b 14 April '25, Chicago; d there 23 July '74) Tenor sax. Son of Albert Ammons; aka 'Jug'. Came to prominence with the Billy Eckstine band '44--7; own group '47--8; then replaced Stan Getz in the Woody Herman band. Beginning '50 often teamed with Sonny Stitt for friendly hard-blowing tenor contests. Led combo early '60s with tenor and organ; served jail term '62--9 on narcotics charge; resumed tours with rhythm section; died of pneumonia. Veered from straight jazz to R&B honking and back again; always popular and always a fine ballad player: 'This Foolish Heart' made top ten of R&B chart '50, incl. in compilation Early Visions on Chess. Many albums, nearly all on Prestige or Fantasy OJC CDs, incl. compilations Gentle Jug '61--2 and Vol. II '60--71; Jug And Dodo (with Marmarosa), Blue Gene '58, We'll Be Together Again and Soul Summit '60--61 with Stitt, etc. |