Sonny Greer
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2010) |
Sonny Greer | |
|---|---|
vibes | |
| Years active | 1910–1966 |
William Alexander "Sonny" Greer (December 13, c. 1895 – March 23, 1982)vocalist, best known for his work with Duke Ellington.
Biography
Greer was born in
vibes.[2]
Greer was a heavy drinker, as well as a
pool-hall hustler[1] (when he needed to retrieve his drums from the pawnbroker), and in 1950, Ellington responded to his drinking and occasional unreliability by taking a second drummer, Butch Ballard, with them on a tour of Scandinavia. This enraged Greer, and the consequent argument led to their permanent estrangement.[1]
Greer continued to play, mainly as a freelance drummer, working with musicians such as
A Great Day in Harlem
". He was part of a tribute to Ellington in 1974, which achieved great success throughout the United States.
Greer died of a
Discography
With Duke Ellington
- Duke Ellington (RCA Victor, 1957)
- The Duke in London (Decca, 1957)
- At the Cotton Club (RCA Camden, 1958)
- Caravan (RCA Victor, 1958)
- Jazz Cocktail (Columbia, 1958)
- Johnny Come Lately (RCA Victor, 1967)
- The Duke Elington Carnegie Hall Concerts, January 1943 (Prestige, 1977)
With Johnny Hodges
- Castle Rock (Norgran, 1955)
- Creamy (Norgran, 1955)
With others
- Bernard Addison, High in a Basement (77 Records, 1961)
- Louis Armstrong, Town Hall (RCA Victor, 1957)
- Earl Hines, Once Upon a Time (Impulse!, 1966)
- Lionel Hampton, Lionel Hampton (RCA Victor, 1958)
- Lonnie Johnson, Playing with the Strings (JSP, 2004)
- Brooks Kerr, Soda Fountain Rag (Chiaroscuro, 1974)
- Oscar Pettiford, Oscar Rides Again (Proper, 2008)
- Rex Stewart, Cootie Williams, Tea and Trumpets (His Master's Voice, 1955)
- Victoria Spivey, The Queen and Her Knights (Spivey, 1965)
- Josh White, Sings Ballads, Blues (Elektra, 1957)
References
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
- ^ "Drummerworld: Sonny Greer". Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
Bibliography
- Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather & Brian Priestley. Jazz: The Rough Guide. ISBN 1-85828-528-3
External links
- Sonny Greer — brief biography by Scott Yanow, for Allmusic (also contains a discography)
- Sonny Greer at Drummerworld.com
- Sonny Greer at IMDb
- Sonny Greer recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.
