Castor McCord

Castor " Cass " McCord ( born May 17, 1907 † February 14, 1963 ) was an American jazz musician (tenor saxophone, clarinet ).

Castor McCord was the twin brother of saxophonist Ted McCord. McCord began his career in 1924 with Edgar Hayes ' bluegrass buddies. While studying at the Wilberforce University, he played in a student band, which was led by Horace Henderson. Later in the 1920s he moved from Ohio to Atlantic City and finally to New York City where he played the end of the 20s in the Mills Blue Rhythm Band and Louis Armstrong; later also with Eubie Blake and Charlie Matson.

Mid- 1930 McCord went for a year to France and in 1936 with Leon Abbey on an India tour in Amsterdam in 1937, he led a trio; then he worked with Walter Rains in Rotterdam. End of the decade, he returned to New York, worked again with Leon Abbey, before he became a member of the bands of Benny Carter, Eddie Mallory ( recording with Ethel Waters) and Claude Hopkins. 1940 McCord left the music business and opened a hair salon business, which he ran until his death in 1963 in Manhattan.