Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Benny Morton was born on January 31, 1907. Growing up in New York City, Benny was a graduate of the Jenkins Orphanage Band and was greatly influenced by church music as well as Dope Andrews, trombonist for Mamie Smith. By 1923, just 16 years old, he was gaining experience with the Clarence Holiday Orchestra and just three years later joined Fletcher Henderson. Swing was in and Benny moved on to spend six years with Don Redman and then three with Count Basie.

By 1938 he was recording with Clarence Holiday’s daughter Billie on My First Impression Of You and on The Sound Of Jazz. Morton went on to play with Teddy Wilson and Ed Hall in the 40’s and led his own band before playing in the Broadway pit for shows like Guys and Dolls and for Radio City Music Hall.

During the sixties and over the next two decades, the gentle and self-effacing trombonist was back in high jazz society with cornetist Wild Bill Davison and Bobby Hackett, The Saints and Sinners and the World’s Greatest Jazz Band.

One of the most sophisticated trombonists of the swing era, Benny Morton passed away on December 28, 1985.

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