Lou Donaldson(1926-2024)
- Soundtrack
He was an alto saxophonist who was a protégé of Charlie Parker and a leading proponent of hard bop. He eventually became even better known for his "soul jazz" recordings. In 1954, he was part of an all-star session led by drummer Art Blakey, "A Night at Birdland." It is considered one of the greatest live jazz recordings, and launched the career of Blakey's Jazz Messengers.
As a child, he hated piano lessons and played baseball. He heard gospel music in church and eventually took up the clarinet. At what is now North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, he played classical music, and went to see touring jazz groups. He was drafted into the Navy during WWII, and was assigned to a radar unit at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. After the war, he returned to North Carolina A&T and graduated. He played semipro baseball for two years, then moved to New York to concentrate on music.
As a child, he hated piano lessons and played baseball. He heard gospel music in church and eventually took up the clarinet. At what is now North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, he played classical music, and went to see touring jazz groups. He was drafted into the Navy during WWII, and was assigned to a radar unit at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. After the war, he returned to North Carolina A&T and graduated. He played semipro baseball for two years, then moved to New York to concentrate on music.
