Vernon Alley

Vernon Alley ( born May 26, 1915 in Winnemucca, Nevada; † October 3, 2004 in San Francisco, California ) was an American jazz bassist and radio presenter.

Life and work

Alley grew up in San Francisco, studied clarinet and piano, later bass. His brother Eddie played drums. Alley's career as a musician began in 1937 in orchestras of People and Wes Saunders King. In 1940 he went to New York City to Lionel Hampton, Count Basie moved to 1942 (guest appearance with the orchestra in the music film Reville With Beverly ) and returned the same year to San Francisco back. There he played during the Second World War in the jazz band of the Navy. Furthermore, Alley appeared in the mid- 1940s with its own trio in the San Francisco clubs and led the band in Hans Jazz Club Black Hawk. From the 1940s to the 1960s he also worked as a presenter of jazz programs on radio and television. In addition, he has performed with Jimmy Witherspoon, Allen Smith and Ralph Sutton. In addition, he became involved in the local black musicians' union and participated in the merger with the white union in 1960. Alley in the '80s, was a volunteer for the city worked (Human Rights Commission, Arts Commission ).