- Bill Graham (musician)
William Henry "Bill" Graham (b. September 8, 1918) is an American
jazz saxophonist.Graham was born in
Kansas City, Missouri and grew up inDenver , where he led his own ensemble which includedPaul Quinichette among its members. He studied atTuskegee University and thenLincoln University of Missouri after a stint in the Army duringWorld War II . He worked withCount Basie ,Lucky Millinder ,Herbie Fields , andErskine Hawkins early in his career. From 1946 to 1953 he worked withDizzy Gillespie as a baritone saxophonist; among his compositions for Gillespie was the tune "Oh-Sho-Be-Do-Be".Following his employment with Gillespie he led his own band in
New York City , in addition to touring Europe withSarah Vaughan in 1953. From 1955 to 1957 he was back with Basie, including on the 1956 release "April in Paris" and theNewport Jazz Festival . He also found work withDuke Ellington (1958) andMercer Ellington (1958-59), and again with Quinichette in 1956-57.Outside of jazz, Graham also played on numerous
R&B recordings, including on those ofWynonie Harris , Joe Williams, andLittle Willie John . In the 1960s he quit active touring and became a teacher in theNew York City Public Schools system.References
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jjfwxq9aldte~T1 Bill Graham] at
Allmusic
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