Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Dick Wilson, born November 11, 1911 in Mount Vernon, Illinois was raised in Seattle, Washington, but attended high school in Los Angeles, California. He started on piano and learned saxophone in Seattle from saxophonist Joe Darensbourg. He became a member of Darensbourg’s band in 1930.

In 1936, he joined Andy Kirk’s Clouds of Joy, where he spent the next five years. With Mary Lou Williams and Pha Terrell, Wilson was one of the most striking musical personalities in the band. He cultivated a style that has been compared to Lester Young’s because of similar characteristics in their solos.

Tenor saxophone Dick Wilson, best known for his work with the Andy Kirk big band, passed away from tuberculosis on November 24, 1941 in New York City.

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