Yusuf Salim
Yusuf Salim (* 1929 in Baltimore as Joseph Blair ; † July 31, 2008 in Durham (North Carolina) ) was an American jazz pianist , arranger and composer .
Salim began his musical career at the age of 14 as a pianist in the Ken Murray Sextet; at 17 he became resident pianist at the Royal Theater in Baltimore . There he played in Tracy McClair's band for seven years. He has also performed with guest artists such as Sammy Davis, Jr. , Moms Mabley and Redd Foxx . In the late 1940s and early 1950s he played with Bill Swindell in New York ; he also took part in jam sessions at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem and Birdland in Manhattan. He toured with Red Prysock for several years , was a member of a marine band and then returned to Baltimore to perform in local jazz clubs.
Salim came to Durham in 1974 and worked on the North Carolina jazz scene (in the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill areas). He appeared on the WUNC television series ( PBS ) Yusuf and Friends and ran a club called The Salaam Cultural Center , where he offered workshops. He promoted the careers of jazz vocalists Eve Cornelious and Nnenna Freelon ; In 1999 he received the North Carolina Arts Council Jazz Fellowship . Salim wrote over 50 compositions, which have been recorded by Gary Bartz , Mongo Santamaría and Cannonball Adderley ( Low Brown ), among others . In 1982 he recorded with Bus Brown; In his later years he presented the album Yusuf Sings under his own name .
Web links
- Yusuf Salim Collection in the Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Pictures by Yusuf Salim (Indyweek.com)
- Pictures by Yusuf Salim (Bromberg Photography)
- Yusuf Salim at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Salim, Yusuf |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Blair, Joseph (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz pianist, arranger and composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1929 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Baltimore |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 31, 2008 |
| Place of death | Durham, North Carolina |