Buck Clayton
Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an influential American jazz trumpeter and arranger, renowned for his work with Count Basie's orchestra. Born in Parsons, Kansas, Clayton began his musical journey on the piano at age six, taught by his father, a minister and amateur musician. He later transitioned to the trumpet in his teens, receiving guidance from Bob Russell and Mutt Carey. Clayton's early career included a brief stint with Duke Ellington's Orchestra and leading his own band, the 14 Gentlemen from Harlem, in California.
In the mid-1930s, Clayton led a band in Shanghai, China, at the Canidrome Ballroom, where he played a pivotal role in bridging traditional Chinese music with American jazz. Returning to the U.S. in 1937, he joined Count Basie's orchestra, contributing to its rise as a leading swing ensemble. His tenure with Basie included collaborations with Billie Holiday and Lester Young, and he was known for his melodic trumpet style influenced by Louis Armstrong.
After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Clayton became a prominent figure in the post-war jazz scene, arranging for notable bands and participating in Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic. He led his own groups and recorded acclaimed "jam session" albums like "The Hucklebuck/Robbins’ Nest" and "All the Cats Join In."
In his later years, Clayton taught at Hunter College in New York City and continued to lead bands until health issues forced him to retire from playing the trumpet. His contributions to jazz were recognized when he was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1991. Clayton's autobiography, "Buck Clayton’s Jazz World," co-written with Nancy Miller Elliott, was published in 1986.
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