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William Thornton Blue was born on January 31, 1902 in St. Louis, Missouri and grew up playing in local bands in his hometown, where his father was a part-time music instructor.

He played with Wilson Robinson’s Bostonians, a territory band, where he was introduced to the rigors of the road. In 1924 he worked with Charlie Creath, then went to New Orleans, Louisiana and joined Dewey Jackson in the middle of the 1920s. This association eventually took Blue back to St. Louis as part of the touring schedule but Blue didn’t stay long. Heading to New York City later that decade he had an extended stint working with Andrew Preer’s Cotton Club Orchestra. This led to a European tour as a member of Noble Sissle’s ensemble.

Remaining for a brief time in Paris, France he collaborated with bassist John Ricks. When Bill returned to New York City, he joined The Missourians, led by Cab Calloway, then worked with pianist Luis Russell.

Due to failing health he played very little in the late Thirties and afterwards. Clarinetist and alto saxophonist William Thornton Blue, sometimes credited as Bill Blue, transitioned in 1968 after spending the last several years of his life in a New York sanatorium.

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