Noted composer, pianist, songwriter, and bandleader, renowned for his iconic works such as "One O'Clock Jump", "Two O'Clock Jump", and "Jumpin' at the Woodside", began his illustrious career as an accompanist to vaudeville acts.
He soon joined the esteemed Bennie Moten orchestra in Kansas City, where he honed his skills before organizing his own orchestra and taking to the airwaves with regular radio performances.
In 1936, he made the move to New York, where he quickly became a fixture on the city's vibrant entertainment scene, appearing in hotels, night clubs, theaters, and jazz festivals.
His impressive touring schedule took him across the United States, as well as to Europe in 1954, where he shared his unique brand of jazz with international audiences.
Throughout his illustrious career, he has been recognized with numerous accolades, including his election to the Down Beat Magazine's Hall of Fame in 1958.
As a member of ASCAP since 1943, he collaborated with an impressive array of musical talents, including Mack David, Jerry Livingston, James Rushing, Andy Gibson, Eddie Durham, and Lester Young.
His extensive discography includes an array of beloved songs and instrumentals, such as "Good Morning Blues", "Every Tub", "John's Idea", "Basie Boogie", "Blue and Sentimental", "Gone With the Wind", "I Ain't Mad at You", "Futile Frustration", "Good Bait", "Don't You Miss Your Baby?", "Miss Thing", "Riff Interlude", "Panassie Stomp", "Shorty George", "Out the Window", "Hollywood Jump", "Nobody Knows", and "Swinging at the Daisy Chain", as well as "I Left My Baby".
