- Eddie Vinson
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Eddie Vinson 
Eddie Vinson in May 1980.Background information Also known as Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson Born December 18, 1917 Origin Houston, Texas, United States Died July 2, 1988 (aged 70)
Los Angeles, California, United StatesGenres Jump blues,[1] R&B,[1] jazz Occupations Saxophonist, singer, composer Years active 1930s–1988 Labels King Records, Mercury, Black & Blue, ABC-BluesWay, Muse Associated acts Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, Etta James Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (December 18, 1917 – July 2, 1988) was an American jump blues, jazz, bebop and R&B alto saxophonist and blues shouter.[1] He was nicknamed Cleanhead after an incident in which his hair was accidentally destroyed by lye contained in a hair straightening product.[2]
Contents
Biography
Vinson as the leader of his own band, circa mid 1940s - mid 1950s.
Vinson was born in Houston, Texas. He was a member of the horn section in Milton Larkin's orchestra, which he joined in the late 1930s. At various times, he sat next to Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, and Tom Archia, while other members of the band included Cedric Haywood and Wild Bill Davis. After exiting Larkin's employment in 1941, Vinson picked up a few vocal tricks while on tour with bluesman Big Bill Broonzy. He then moved to New York and joined the Cootie Williams Orchestra from 1942 to 1945, recording such tunes as "Cherry Red". Vinson struck out on his own in 1945, forming his own large band, signing with Mercury Records, and enjoying a double-sided hit in 1947 with his R&B chart-topper "Old Maid Boogie", and the song that would prove to be his signature number, "Kidney Stew Blues".[3]
Vinson's jazz leanings were probably heightened during 1952-1953, when his band included a young John Coltrane. In the late 1960s, touring in a strict jazz capacity with Jay McShann, Vinson's career took an upswing. In the early 1960s Vinson moved to Los Angeles and began working with the Johnny Otis Revue. A 1970 appearance at the Monterey Jazz Festival with Otis spurred a bit of a comeback for Vinson. Throughout the 1970s he worked high-profile blues and jazz sessions for Count Basie, Johnny Otis, Roomful of Blues, Arnett Cobb, and Buddy Tate. He also composed steadily, including "Tune Up" and "Four", both of which have been incorrectly attributed to Miles Davis.[4] Vinson recorded extensively during his fifty odd year career and performed regularly in Europe and the U.S..
He died in 1988, from a heart attack whilst undergoing chemotherapy,[5] in Los Angeles, California.
Discography
Year Title Notes Genre Label 1957 Back in Town Jazz Charly Records 1961 Cleanhead & Cannonball with Cannonball Adderley Jazz Milestone 1961 Backdoor Blues with Cannonball Adderley Blues Fantasy 1967 Cherry Red Jump Blues, R&B, Swing Jazz ABC's Bluesway 1986 The Late Show Live with Etta James Blues Fantasy 1999 Cleanhead Blues: 1945-1947 Import Blues Camden/Wave 2006 Honk for Texas Blues JSP 2007 Blues, Boogie & Bebop - Meat's Too High Various JSP References
- ^ a b c Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
- ^ Otis, Johnny. Upside Your Head!: Rhythm and Blues on Central Avenue, Wesleyan University Press, page 34, (1993) - ISBN 0819562874
- ^ Vladimir, Bogdanov. All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues, Backbeat Books, page 571, (2002) - ISBN 0879307366
- ^ Koster, Rick. Texas Music, St. Martin's Press, page 319, (2000) - ISBN 0312254253
- ^ Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed November 2009
External links
Categories:- 1917 births
- 1988 deaths
- Musicians from Houston, Texas
- Rhythm and blues saxophonists
- West Coast blues saxophonists
- Bebop saxophonists
- American blues singers
- American male singers
- American rhythm and blues musicians
- American jazz alto saxophonists
- Muse Records artists
- Deaths from myocardial infarction
- West Coast blues musicians
- New York blues musicians
- Jump blues musicians
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