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Biography
Eddie Chamblee was an American jazz / Rhythm & Blues saxophonist and clarinetist, born 24 February 1920 as Edwin Leon Chamblee in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and died 1 May 1999 in New York, USA. He was with Lionel Hampton in the early 50's & later backed and married singer Dinah Washington from 1957 to 1959 when they both were signed to Mercury. He was releasing music as a bandleader as late as 1976 & in the early 80s he switched to alto saxophone for a short stint with Count Basie. He continued to make live appearances with a jazz combo in New York through the 1980s, eventually dying in a nursing home in NYC in 1999.
From 1946 until he joined Lionel Hampton in 1955, Chamblee led a small band in Chicago. His stint with Hampton's traveling orchestra lasted just 2 years but it was long enough for him to build a reputation, particularly in Europe. Earlier in his career he was a tenor sax man with Sonny Thompson, on a record called "Long Gone pt 1 & 2" recorded in 1948 on Lee Egalnick's Miracle Records (popular series Instrumental) M 126 as Sonny Thompson with the Sharps and Flats starring Eddie Chamblee tenor sax. It also released on King 4438 . He played on many King/ Federal sessions and also recorded music for United, Prestige, eMarcy, Travis, and others. His last official release was when he recorded the album “Twenty Years After” for the French Black and Blue label with guests Arnett Cobb, Milt Buckner and Panama Francis.
