Al Casey (jazz guitarist)

Albert Aloysius Casey (September 15, 1915 - September 11, 2005) known professional as Al Casey, was an African American swing guitarist who played with Fats Waller on some of his famous recordings. Casey composed the well known tune "Buck Jumpin" which was recorded by Waller.

Casey was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Joseph and Maggie B. Johnson Casey. He joined Thomas Fats Waller's band in the early 1930s, and worked with Waller until he died in 1943 and can be heard on hundreds of recordsings. In 1944, he briefly recorded with Louis Armstrong. He also worked with Clarenece Profit's band that same year.

Between stints with Waller, Casey worked with Teddy Wilson from 1939 to 1940. He recorded with Billie Holiday, Frankie Newton, and Chuck Berry, and even led his own a trio for a short time. Remembering his time, years later, working with Holiday, Casey commented that he was in love with her.

Casey freelanced over decades working with King Curtis from 1957 to 1961, where he played Rhythm and Blues. He continued playing into his late 80's with The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band which he joined in 1981.

He died four days before his ninetieth birthday of colon cancer at the Dewitt Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in New York.

Birthdate debate

According to jazz researcher Eric B. Borgman the son of jazz journalist George A. Borgman Casey's birthdate may be incorrect. While double checking his birthdate with U. S. census records he found Albert Casey listed as being 2 and 1/2 years old in the 1920 Kentucky census which was recorded on January 9, 1920. Borgman says this shows a 1917 birthdate. He further suggests that September may be incorrect as well. This new birthdate information would suggest that he was actually about 88 years old when he died.

Sources

* "The Mississippi Rag" article by George A. Borgman, December 1999.
* New York Times, Obituary, September 13, 2005.
* [http://www.geocities.com/ebbpeg/Casey.html More Questions Than Answers]