Ow! - Music

Clark Terry Born December 14 1920 In St. Louis Missouri Nicknamed Mumbles Is An American Swing And Bop Trumpeter A Pioneer Of The Fluegelhorn In Jazz Educator And NEA Jazz Master. Clark Terry Attended Vashon High School And Began His Professional Career In St. Louis In The Early 1940s By Playing In Local Clubs Before Joining A Navy Band During World War II. Afterwards He Played With Charlie Barnet 1947 Count Basie 1948-1951 Duke Ellington 1951 To 1959 And Quincy Jones 1960 . He Also Performed And Recorded Regularly Both As A Leader And Sideman. In All His Career In Jazz Spans More Than Sixty Years. His Years With Count Basie And Duke Ellington In The Late 1940s And 1950s Established Him As A World-Class Jazz Artist. Blending The St. Louis Tone Of His Youth With Contemporary Styles Terry’s Sound Influenced A Generation. During This Period Terry Took Part In Many Of Ellington’s Suites And Acquired A Lasting Reputation For His Wide Range Of Styles From Swing To Hard Bop Technical Proficiency And Infectious Good Humor. In Addition To His Outstanding Musical Contribution To These Bands Terry Exerted A Positive Influence On Musicians Such As Miles Davis And Quincy Jones Both Of Whom Credit Clark As A Formidable Influence During The Early Stages Of Their Careers. After Leaving Ellington Clark’s International Recognition Soared When He Accepted An Offer From The National Broadcasting Company NBC To Become Its First African-American Staff Musician. He Appeared Regularly For Ten Years On The Tonight Show Sitting In With The Tonight Show Band Led By Doc Severinsen Where His Unique “mumbling” Scat Singing Became Famous When He Scored A Smash Hit As A Singer With His Irrepressible “Mumbles.” read less