Zutty Singleton

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Zutty Singleton and Teddy Wilson (left), photograph by William P. Gottlieb, ca.1947
Zutty Singleton with Joe Marsala (left) and Teddy Wilson (right), photograph by William P. Gottlieb, ca.1939

Arthur James "Zutty" Singleton (born May 14, 1898 in Bunkie , Louisiana , † July 14, 1975 in New York City ) was an important drummer of New Orleans Jazz , known for the Hot Five recordings by Louis Armstrong .

Live and act

Singleton grew up in New Orleans , where he appeared as a drummer in Steve Lewis' band in 1915. During the First World War he was in the US Navy and was wounded. After returning to New Orleans he played in numerous bands ( Papa Celestin , Big Eye Louis Nelson Delisle , John Robichaux , in the river ship bands of Fate Marable and others), and also played briefly in St. Louis in the band of Charlie Creath , whose sister Marge he married. When he returned to New Orleans, however, he did not stay there long, after a year he followed the general train of many jazz musicians to Chicago . Here he played with Doc Cooke , Dave Peyton , Jimmie Noone and in theater bands before working with Louis Armstrong . Among other things, he was involved in recordings of the Hot Five in 1928 ( Hot Fives & Sevens ).

The attempt to open his own club with Armstrong and Earl Hines failed, and he went to New York with Armstrong in 1929, where, in addition to Armstrong, he worked with Bubber Miley , Tommy Ladnier , Fats Waller (1931), Jelly Roll Morton and Otto Hardwick played as well as in the backing band of Bill Robinson . In 1933 he returned to Chicago to work for Carroll Dickerson . From 1937 he was back in New York and worked with Roy Eldridge , Mezz Mezzrow and Sidney Bechet . 1941 played in the formation of The Three Deuces with Pee Wee Russell and Joe Sullivan , with whom he some titles for Commodore grossed

In 1941 he moved to Los Angeles , where he took part in the music films "Stormy Weather" (1943), "New Orleans" (1947) and "Young Man with a Horn" (1950) and played as a studio musician and with his own bands; he stayed there until 1951. He later worked with musicians such as Slim Gaillard , Wingy Manone , Eddie Condon , Nappy Lamare , Art Hodes , Hot Lips Page , Max Kaminsky and Steve Lacy . A stroke suffered in 1970 ended his career. Singleton retired and died five years later.

He was one of the most influential drummers in early jazz, where he popularized solos and the use of jazz brooms.

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Commons : Zutty Singleton  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Singleton, Zutty
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Singleton, Arthur James (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz drummer
DATE OF BIRTH May 14, 1898
PLACE OF BIRTH Bunkie , Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH July 14, 1975
Place of death New York City , New York