List of 1950s down beat poll winners
This is a list of Down Beat magazine poll winners (readers and critics) in the 1950s .
Critic poll on Down Beat from 1953
1950
Reader poll:
- Best band: Stan Kenton
- Combo instrumental: George Shearing
- Vocal group: Mills Brothers
- King of Corn: Spike Jones
- Alto saxophone: Charlie Parker
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Serge Chaloff
- Trumpet: Maynard Ferguson
- Trumpet: Bill Harris
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Drums: Shelly Manne
- Bass: Eddie Safranski
- Guitar: Billy Bauer
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instrument: Terry Gibbs , vibraphone
- Arranger: Pete Rugolo
- Male vocal artist (without a band): Billy Eckstine
- Female vocal artist (without a band): Sarah Vaughan
- Male vocal artist (with band): Jay Johnson
- Female vocal artist (with band): June Christy
1951
Reader poll:
- Best band: Stan Kenton
- Combo instrumental: George Shearing
- Vocal group: Mills Brothers
- King of Corn: Spike Jones
- Alto saxophone: Charlie Parker
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Serge Chaloff
- Trumpet: Maynard Ferguson
- Trumpet: Bill Harris
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Drums: Shelly Manne
- Bass: Eddie Safranski
- Guitar: Les Paul
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instrument: Terry Gibbs , vibraphone
- Arranger: Pete Rugolo
- Male vocal artist (without a band): Billy Eckstine
- Female vocal artist (without a band): Sarah Vaughan
- Male vocal artist (with band): Jay Johnson
- Female vocal artist (with band): Lucy Ann Polk
1952
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Louis Armstrong
- Best band: Stan Kenton
- Combo instrumental: George Shearing
- Vocal group: Mills Brothers
- Best Solo Artist: Charlie Parker
- Alto saxophone: Charlie Parker
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney
- Trumpet: Maynard Ferguson
- Trumpet: Bill Harris
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Drums: Gene Krupa
- Vibraphone: Terry Gibbs
- Bass: Eddie Safranski
- Guitar: Les Paul
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instrument: Art Van Damme , accordion
- Arranger: Ralph Burns
- Male vocal artist (without a band): Billy Eckstine
- Female vocal artist (without a band): Sarah Vaughan
- Male vocal artist (with band): Tommy Mercer
- Female vocal artist (with band): Lucy Ann Polk
1953
Critic Poll:
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Acoustic band: Dave Brubeck
- Alto saxophone: Charlie Parker
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney
- Trumpet: Louis Armstrong
- Trumpet: Bill Harris
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Drums: Buddy Rich
- Bass: Oscar Pettiford
- Guitar: Barney Kessel
- Piano: Oscar Pettiford
- Male vocal artist: Louis Armstrong
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Glen Miller
- Best Recording, Popular Music: Ray Anthony , Dragnet (Capitol)
- Best recording jazz :: Woody Herman , Moten Stomp (Mars)
- Best Recording Rhythm & Blues: Ruth Brown , Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean (Atlantic)
- Best recording classical: Arturo Toscanini , NBC Symphony, Respighi - Fountains of Rome / Pines of Rome (Victor)
- Dance band: Les Brown
- Jazz band: Stan Kenton
- Combo (instrumental): Dave Brubeck
- Vocal group: Four Freshmen
- Alto saxophone: Charlie Parker
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Chet Baker
- Trumpet: Bill Harris
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Drums: Gene Krupa
- Vibraphone: Terry Gibbs
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Les Paul
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Accordion: Art Van Damme
- Other instrument: Don Elliott , mellophone
- Arranger: Ralph Burns
- Male vocal artist (without a band): Nat King Cole
- Female vocal artist (without a band): Ella Fitzgerald
- Male vocal artist (with band): Tommy Mercer
- Female vocal artist (with band): Lucy Ann Polk
1954
Critic Poll:
- Big Band: Count Basie
- Jazz group: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Alto saxophone: Charlie Parker
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie
- Trumpet: Bill Harris
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Guitar: Jimmy Raney
- Bass, acoustic: Ray Brown
- Drums: Buddy Rich
- Vibraphone: Lionel Hampton
- Piano: Art Tatum
- Male vocal artist: Louis Armstrong
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Stan Kenton
- Person of the Year, Popular Music: Frank Sinatra , Rosemary Clooney
- Personalities of the Year, Jazz: Dave Brubeck
- Personalities of the Year, Latin American Music: Pérez Prado
- Person of the Year, Rhythm & Blues: Ruth Brown
- Dance band: Les Brown
- Jazz band: Stan Kenton
- Combo instrumental: Dave Brubeck
- Vocal group: Four Freshmen
- Alto saxophone: Charlie Parker
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Chet Baker
- Trumpet: Bill Harris
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Drums: Shelly Manne
- Vibraphone: Terry Gibbs
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Johnny Smith
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instrument: Don Elliott , mellophone
- Accordion: Art Van Damme
- Arranger: Pete Rugolo
- Male vocal artist (without a band): Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist (without a band): Ella Fitzgerald
- Male vocal artist (with band): Tommy Mercer
- Female vocal artist (with band): Lucy Ann Polk
1955
Critic Poll:
- Big Band: Count Basie
- Acoustic band: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Alto saxophone: Benny Carter
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie , Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Tony Scott
- Drums: Art Blakey
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Oscar Pettiford
- Guitar: Jimmy Raney
- Piano: Art Tatum
- Male vocal artist: Louis Armstrong
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Charlie Parker
- Person of the Year, Popular Music: Frank Sinatra
- Personalities of the Year, Jazz: Dave Brubeck
- Personalities of the Year, Latin American Music: Pérez Prado
- Person of the Year, Rhythm & Blues: Bill Haley
- Dance band: Les Brown
- Jazz band: Count Basie
- Combo instrumental: Dave Brubeck
- Vocal group: Four Freshmen
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Drums: Max Roach
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Johnny Smith
- Piano: Erroll Garner
- Other instrument: Don Elliott , mellophone
- Accordion: Art Van Damme
- Arranger: Pete Rugolo
- Male vocal artist (without a band): Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist (without a band): Ella Fitzgerald
- Male vocal artist (with band): Joe Williams
- Female vocal artist (with band): Ann Richards
1956
Critic Poll:
- Big Band: Count Basie
- Acoustic band: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Alto saxophone: Benny Carter
- Tenor saxophone: Lester Young
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Benny Goodman
- Drums: Jo Jones
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Oscar Pettiford
- Guitar: Tal Farlow
- Piano: Art Tatum
- Male vocal artist: Louis Armstrong
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Duke Ellington
- Person of the Year, Popular Music: Frank Sinatra
- Personalities of the Year, Jazz: Count Basie
- Personalities of the Year, Rhythm & Blues: Fats Domino
- Dance band: Les Brown
- Jazz band: Count Basie
- Combo instrumental: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Vocal group: Four Freshmen
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Tony Scott
- Flute: Bud Shank
- Drums: Shelly Manne
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Barney Kessel
- Piano: Erroll Garner
- Other instrument: Don Elliott , mellophone
- Accordion: Art Van Damme
- Arranger: Pete Rugolo
- Composer: John Lewis
- Male vocal artist (without a band): Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist (without a band): Ella Fitzgerald
- Male vocal artist (with band): Joe Williams
- Female vocal artist (with band): Jo Ann Greer
1957
Critic Poll:
- Big Band: Count Basie
- Acoustic band: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Alto saxophone: Lee Konitz
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Tony Scott
- Drums: Max Roach
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Oscar Pettiford
- Guitar: Tal Farlow
- Piano: Erroll Garner
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Benny Goodman
- Person of the Year, Popular Music: Frank Sinatra
- Personalities of the Year, Jazz: Duke Ellington
- Personalities of the Year, Rhythm & Blues: Fats Domino
- Dance band: Les Brown
- Jazz band: Count Basie
- Combo instrumental: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Vocal group: The Hi-Lo’s
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Jimmy Giuffre
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Shelly Manne
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Barney Kessel
- Piano: Erroll Garner
- Other instrument: Don Elliott , mellophone
- Accordion: Art Van Damme
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1958
Critic Poll:
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Jazz group: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Alto saxophone: Lee Konitz
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Tony Scott
- Guitar: Freddie Green
- Bass, acoustic: Ray Brown
- Drums: Max Roach
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Piano: Thelonious Monk
- Male vocal artist: Jimmy Rushing
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Count Basie
- Person of the Year, Popular Music: Frank Sinatra
- Person of the Year, Jazz: Miles Davis
- Person of the Year, Rhythm & Blues: Ray Charles
- Dance band: Les Brown
- Jazz band: Count Basie
- Combo instrumental: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Vocal group: Four Freshmen
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Tony Scott
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Shelly Manne
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Barney Kessel
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instrument: Don Elliott , mellophone
- Accordion: Art Van Damme
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1959
Critic Poll:
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Jazz group: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Alto saxophone: Johnny Hodges
- Tenor saxophone: Coleman Hawkins
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Tony Scott
- Guitar: Barney Kessel
- Bass, acoustic: Ray Brown
- Drums: Max Roach
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Piano: Thelonious Monk
- Other instruments: Frank Wess (flute)
- Arranger: Duke Ellington
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Jimmy Rushing
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Lester Young
- Person of the Year, Popular Music: Frank Sinatra
- Person of the Year, Jazz: Miles Davis
- Person of the Year, Rhythm & Blues: Ray Charles
- Dance band: Les Brown
- Jazz band: Count Basie
- Combo instrumental: Dave Brubeck Quartet
- Vocal group: Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Tony Scott
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Shelly Manne
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Barney Kessel
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instrument: Don Elliott , mellophone
- Accordion: Art Van Damme
- Composer: Gil Evans
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald