Tommy Douglas (clarinetist)

Thomas " Tommy" Douglas ( born November 9, 1911 in Eskridge, Kansas, † March 9, 1965 ) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, arranger and bandleader. In its Territory band also played Charlie Parker.

Life and work

Tommy Douglas first studied in Topeka (Kansas), and later at the Conservatory in Boston and went in this time with fellow musicians such as Otto Hardwick, Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney on tour; He also toured with the Captain Woolmack 's band. In the late 1920s he played in Kansas City with Paul Banks and George E. Lee; In 1930 he formed his own band. Later he worked as a sideman for Jelly Roll Morton, Jap Allen, Clarence Love and a short time at Bennie Moten. In his later bands from 1935 played among other Charlie Parker and Jo Jones. The Parker biographer Ross Russell, according to Charlie Parker learned a lot from Douglas, " he was a musician who could simply play anything; he played all kinds of saxophones. " Douglas dissolved his band in 1937 and also appeared with George E. Lee, Captain Woolmack 's band and the Clarence Love Orchestra. Until the 1970s had Tommy Douglas own formations, with whom he usually occurred in the State of Missouri, apart from a two-week stint at the Duke Ellington Orchestra.