|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZPROCOPE, Russell(b 11 Aug. '08, NYC; d there 21 Jan. '81) Clarinet, Alto sax. Began on violin at six (both parents were musicians, strictly classical). Went from classical to military band music, then heard Fletcher Henderson with Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, began learning jazz from scratch. Infl. by Buster Bailey; worked/recorded with Jelly Roll Morton '28 and infl. by Omer Simeon; worked for childhood friend Benny Carter '29, Chick Webb '29-31, Henderson '31-4 (very occasionally played violin when Edgar Sampson was in the band, but preferred other people's jazz violin). With Tiny Bradshaw '34-5; Teddy Hill incl. tour of Europe '36-7; John Kirby Sextet '38-43 (with Bailey on clarinet), again after military service; joined Duke Ellington '46 until Duke's death. Always believed that there were more voices in the clarinet than the saxophone; he played a lot of alto with Ellington, but was best known for the wooden horn. Among many solo moments of beauty: played the melody on the '52 remake of "The Mooche' against Jimmy Hamilton's obligatto. |