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Jack Washington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ronald "Jack" Washington (July 17, 1910 – November 28, 1964) was an American jazz saxophonist who was a member of the Count Basie orchestra in the 1930s and 1940s.

Life and career

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Born in Kansas City, Kansas, he started playing soprano saxophone in his teens before switching to baritone.

He began his professional career with the pianist Paul Banks[1] and then toured the Midwest with Jesse Stone's Blues Serenaders.[1]

He joined Bennie Moten's Orchestra in summer 1927.[1]

After Moten's death in 1935, he joined Count Basie's band and remained with Basie until 1950 except for a short period in the U.S. Army. He performed with the Basie band at the From Spirituals to Swing concerts in New York City in 1938 and 1939.[2]

He later moved to Oklahoma City, where he worked at the city airport. He continued to perform on an occasional basis and took part in a reunion of the Basie orchestra in 1958. He died in Oklahoma City in 1964 at the age of 54.

Discography

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With Count Basie

With Paul Quinichette

References

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  1. ^ a b c Driggs, Frank; Haddix, Chuck (2005). Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop-A History. Oxford University Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-19-536435-4.
  2. ^ From Spirituals to Swing, liner notes, Definitive Records CD reissue, 2001