Truck Parham

Charles Valdez " Truck" Parham ( born January 25, 1911 in Chicago; † 5 June 2002) was an American bass player of swing and Dixieland jazz.

Life and work

Truck Parham had seven years of singing lessons, but first worked as a professional athlete; he was a boxer and played football for the Chicago Negro All Stars. Before he switched to bass, he was a drummer; He learned bass with the legendary Basie bassist Walter Page. Parham worked in the Territory Band of Zack Whyte 1932-1934, mainly in Cincinnati. After he returned to Chicago, he played in the 1930s with Zutty Singleton, Roy Eldridge ( 1936-1938 ), Art Tatum and Bob Shoffner. In 1940 he became a member of Earl Hines Orchestra, where he remained for two years; He then moved to Jimmie Lunceford (1942-1947), then played again at Muggsy Spanier in its revival band (1950-1955), and later with Herbie Fields (1956-1957), again at Hines and at Louie Bellson. During the 1960s he worked primarily with Art Hodes and played in numerous Dixieland bands like Big Chief Russell Moore. Parham was involved in recordings of Mildred Bailey, Eldridge, Hines, Lunceford, Pearl Bailey, Spaniards and Bellson.

Weblink

• Truck Parham's biography by Scott Yanow at All Music Guide