Rapp on Jazz

Acclaimed blues singer and actor Mabel King was born in Charleston but raised in the Bronx. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Gordon Richard “Dick” Goodwin is a highly influential figure in South Carolina’s jazz and academic music scenes.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Charleston’s own Quentin E. Baxter is an award-winning producer, performer, and passionate jazz educator. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Blues singer and guitarist Pink Anderson, born in 1900 in Laurens, South Carolina, started his career performing for a medicine show.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Renowned American jazz and blues singer Etta Jones was born on either November 25, 1927, or 1928, in Aiken, South Carolina.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Born in Lancaster, South Carolina, on April 26, 1940, Maurice Williams made an indelible mark on music as a singer, pianist, and composer.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Mose Allison was an influential jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter known for his witty lyrics and distinctive blend of jazz, blues, and Southern roots music.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Pianist Bob Alberti studied under the jazz legend Teddy Wilson and performed with various jazz groups across New York City before relocating to Los Angeles in 1960  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Gus Aiken was born Augustus Aiken on July 26, 1902, in Charleston, South Carolina. This talented trumpeter’s early musical education took place at the Jenkins Orphanage.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Johnny Acey was born September 3, 1925, in Gaffney, SC. He blended Southern rock, blues, and soul into a distinctive sound.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

James "Jimmy" Witherspoon was a jump blues singer who began recording with Jay McShann's band. In 1949, "Ain't Nobody's Business," hit the charts and became his signature tune.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Joe Williams was a jazz singer who left an indelible mark on the music world. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Thelma Carpenter was a jazz singer and actress best known for her role as Miss One, the Good Witch of the North, in "The Wiz." Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Helen Humes was a remarkable blues and popular singer for the Basie Band following Billie Holiday. She embodied the blues’ playful spirit and deep emotions with her delightful and girlish timbre. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jimmy Rushing, born James Andrew Rushing, was affectionately known as "Mr. Five by Five." This pianist and vocalist with Count Basie's Orchestra was the subject of a 1942 popular song.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Al Grey was a jazz trombonist with the Count Basie orchestra known for his plunger mute technique.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Harry "Sweets" Edison was a jazz trumpeter best known as the Count Basie Orchestra member. He was recognized for his muted trumpet work, accompanying legendary singers like Frank Sinatra. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz trumpeter Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton is celebrated for his vibrant contributions to Count Basie's orchestra.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Lester Willis Young, or the "Prez," was a jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Billie Holiday gave him this nickname in honor of President Franklin Roosevelt, whom she considered "the greatest man around."  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Herschel "Tex" Evans was an exceptional tenor saxophonist whose contributions to the Count Basie Orchestra left a lasting impact on jazz.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis is a true beacon of musical genius born in the vibrant city of New Orleans in 1961, hailing from a rich musical lineage. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Esperanza Spalding is bassist, vocalist, and composer whose genre-bending style has transformed contemporary jazz. She made history in 2011 as the first jazz artist to win the Grammy for Best New Artist.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Charles Buddy Bolden or “King” Bolden was born in 1877 and left an indelible mark on the world of Jazz before passing in 1931. This incredible African-American musician played a pivotal role in shaping the New Orleans style of ragtime music, affectionately referred to as "jass," which later evolved into jazz. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz is noted for celebrating some of its brightest stars with dazzling titles. The names in the pantheon of jazz royalty include Buddy "King" Bolden, Benny Goodman, King Oliver, and Nat King Cole.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

John Henry Hammond, born in 1910, was a groundbreaking producer and promoter of jazz. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.