Al Casey (jazz guitarist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Al Casey
|
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Al Casey, Cafe Society, New York City, c. 1947
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Albert Aloysius Casey |
| Born | September 15, 1915 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | September 11, 2005 (aged 89) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist |
| Years active | 1934–2004 |
Albert Aloysius Casey (born September 15, 1915 – died September 11, 2005) was an American jazz guitarist. He was famous for playing with Fats Waller's band in the 1930s and early 1940s. Al Casey was known for his amazing guitar skills in the world of jazz and swing music.
Contents
Al Casey's Early Life and Music
Al Casey was born in Louisville, Kentucky. When he was young, his family moved to New York City. He went to DeWitt Clinton High School there. It was during this time that he started to learn the guitar.
Al was a very talented musician from a young age. He was a "child prodigy," which means he was super good at music even when he was a kid. He first played the violin. Then he switched to the ukulele. By 1930, he started playing the guitar.
Joining Fats Waller's Band
In 1933, Al Casey met the famous jazz musician Fats Waller. The very next year, when Al was just 18 years old, he joined Waller's band. He played guitar on many of their recordings. One of his most famous guitar solos was in a song called "Buck Jumpin'".
After Fats Waller passed away in 1943, Al Casey started his own music group. It was called a trio. For two years in the 1940s, Esquire magazine voted him the best guitarist. This showed how talented he was!
Later Career and Return to Music
In 1957, Al Casey joined a rhythm and blues band. This band was led by another great musician named King Curtis. Al played with them for a few years.
Later, Al Casey took a break from music. But he came back in the 1970s. He recorded with singers like Helen Humes and Jay McShann. He took another break, but returned to music in 1981. He then played with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band.
Al Casey worked with many other famous jazz artists during his career. Some of these included Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Lionel Hampton, and Billie Holiday. He passed away on September 11, 2005.
Images for kids
-
Al Casey playing guitar.
