Leon Washington (musician)
Encyclopedia
Leon Diamond Washington was an American jazz
tenor saxophonist.
Born in Mississippi
, Washington grew up in Chicago
from the age of three. He started on clarinet before moving on to tenor saxophone, and studied under Santy Runyon
. After finishing high school
, he played professionally from 1926, joining Zinky Cohn
's band and recording with Frankie Franko (1930) and Bernie Young & the Creolians (1931-33). He played with Carroll Dickerson
from 1934-35 at the Sunset Cafe in Chicago, then played briefly with Louis Armstrong
in 1935.
He played with Earl Hines
in 1937, before joining Red Saunders
' group, where he remained for the next 25 years, recording with him extensively in addition to occasionally releasing material under his own name. Leaving Saunders' band in 1963, he became an official at the Chicago musicians' union.
Washington died of leukemia
in 1973.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
tenor saxophonist.
Born in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Washington grew up in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from the age of three. He started on clarinet before moving on to tenor saxophone, and studied under Santy Runyon
Santy Runyon
Clinton "Santy" Runyon was an American saxophonist and flautist as well as a designer and manufacturer of mouthpieces for woodwind instruments....
. After finishing high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he played professionally from 1926, joining Zinky Cohn
Zinky Cohn
Zinky Cohn was an American jazz pianist.Cohn played in Chicago in the late 1920s, including in Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra ; he recorded with Noone extensively between 1929 and 1934, especially for Vocalion Records...
's band and recording with Frankie Franko (1930) and Bernie Young & the Creolians (1931-33). He played with Carroll Dickerson
Carroll Dickerson
Carroll Dickerson was a Chicago and New York-based dixieland jazz violinist and bandleader, probably better known for his extensive work with Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines or his more brief work touring with King Oliver....
from 1934-35 at the Sunset Cafe in Chicago, then played briefly with Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
in 1935.
He played with Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
in 1937, before joining Red Saunders
Red Saunders (musician)
Theodore Dudley "Red" Saunders was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He also played vibraphone and timpani....
' group, where he remained for the next 25 years, recording with him extensively in addition to occasionally releasing material under his own name. Leaving Saunders' band in 1963, he became an official at the Chicago musicians' union.
Washington died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 1973.