Eddie Wilcox

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Eddie Wilcox (in the background) and Joe Thomas , circa October 1947.
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb .

Eddie Wilcox (* 27. December 1907 in Method , North Carolina as Edwin Felix Wilcox ; † 29. September 1968 in New York ) was an American jazz - pianist and arranger of the swing .

Live and act

Eddie Wilcox was a member of Jimmie Lunceford's orchestra from 1926 to 1947 , but rarely to be heard with solos (as in "Since My Best Girl Turned Me Down" in 1934 or in "Mandy" in 1939), was one of the most capable arrangers this band, with particular attention to the saxophone section, for which he is considered one of the greatest specialists in jazz (see E. Determeyer, Rhythm is Our Business - Jimmy Lunceford and the Harlem Express, 2006). He wrote u. a. the arrangements for "Miss Otis Regrets", "Rhythm Is Our Business" 1934, " Sleepy Time Gal ", "Thunder", "Rhythm in My Nursery Rhyme" 1935, "See You in My Dreams", "I'll Honest and Truly ”1937,“ My Melancholy Baby ”1938 and“ Impromptu ”1941. After Lunceford's death in 1947, Wilcox took over the direction of the orchestra with Joe Thomas . The piece "Saxology" (1947) comes from this time. In 1948 he founded his own rhythm and blues band, the most famous number of which was "Shuffle Express" from 1951. In early 1952 he had his only hit in the national charts for the Derby label with the song "Wheel of Fortune", in which Sunny Gale was the band singer. He also arranged songs by Bette McLaurin for the Derby label . In the 1950s he worked with Teddy McRae in a music publisher and had a trio from 1958 to 1960 with whom he performed in Brooklyn . He also worked with Paul Quinichette .

Choice discography

  • Jimmie Lunceford: 1930-1934 (Classics) (Wilcox also plays Celeste here in addition to the piano)
  • Jimmie Lunceford 1945-1947 (Classics)
  • Jimmie Lunceford 1948-1949 (Classics)

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Wilcox, Eddie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wilcox, Edwin Felix
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz pianist and arranger
DATE OF BIRTH December 27, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH Method , North Carolina
DATE OF DEATH 29th September 1968
Place of death new York