Biography Trummy Young

Trummy Young was a trombonist in the Swing Era. Although he was never really a star or a bandleader himself, he did have one hit with his version of "Margie," which he played and sang with Jimmy Lunceford's Orchestra.

Growing up in Washington, Young was originally a trumpeter, but by the time he debuted in 1928, he had switched to trombone. Extending the range and power of his instrument, Young was a major asset to Earl Hines' orchestra from 1933 to 1937, but became a major influence in jazz when he joined Lunceford's orchestra, in which he played from 1937 to 1943.

Young was a modern swing stylist with an open mind who fit in well with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie on a Clyde Hart-led session in 1945, and with Jazz at the Philharmonic. It was therefore a surprise when he joined the Louis Armstrong All-Stars in 1952 and stayed a dozen years. Trummy Young was a good foil for Armstrong (most memorably on their 1954 recording of "St. Louis Blues"), but he simplified his style due to his love for the trumpeter. In 1964, Young quit the road to settle in Hawaii, occasionally emerging for jazz parties and special appearances.

Young did have his own band from about 1951 to 1952 in Hawaii. He played at a place on Hotel Street in Honolulu. One of the interesting features of his band was the white cornet player, who played the cornet with one hand and corded the piano with his other hand. Every night Young and his group would play "When the Saints Go Marching In" and the members of the band would parade through the rather small club, and really blow up a storm.

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