Willie Akins
Willie Akins (born April 10, 1939 in Webster Groves , † October 2, 2015 in St. Louis ) was an American jazz musician ( tenor saxophone ) and music teacher. After eleven years in New York, he was mainly active in the St. Louis music scene since 1968.
Life
Akins first learned the recorder. He attended Douglass High School. In 1957 he moved to New York City to work as a musician. The first recordings were made in 1961 when he played in Bobby Bryant's band in Chicago ; he was also involved in recordings of Groove Holmes ( Swedish Lullaby , 1984). In 1968 he returned to his hometown, where he appeared in the following years with his own quartet and released two albums under his own name, Alima and The St. Louis Connection ; his main job he taught at the Faculty of Jazz Studies at Webster University . In the field of jazz, Akins was involved in nine recording sessions between 1961 and 2012.
Discographic notes
- Alima (1997)
- The Sound of St. Louis (2000)
- The St. Louis Connection (ca 2012), with Montez Coleman
Web links
- Brief portrait, reference to interview
- Willie Akins at Discogs (English)
- Willie Akins in Allmusic (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Obituary in St. Louis Today
- ↑ a b Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed October 4, 2015)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Akins, Willie |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz musician (tenor saxophone) and music teacher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 10, 1939 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Webster Groves |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 2nd, 2015 |
| Place of death | St. Louis |