Chu Berry facts for kids

Leon Brown "Chu" Berry (September 13, 1908 – October 30, 1941) was an American jazz musician. He was a famous tenor saxophonist during the 1930s.

Some musicians called him "Chu" because he chewed on his saxophone's mouthpiece. Others said it was because he had a special mustache.

Chu Berry's Music Career

Chu Berry was born in Wheeling, West Virginia. He went to Lincoln High School and then to West Virginia State College. His sister Ann played the piano, which might have sparked his interest in music.

He started playing the alto saxophone with local bands. Later, he heard the famous saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. This inspired Chu to switch to the tenor saxophone.

Playing with Big Bands

Most of Chu Berry's career was spent playing with popular swing bands. He played with Sammy Stewart from 1929 to 1930. Then he joined Benny Carter (1932–1933) and Teddy Hill (1933–1935).

From 1935 to 1937, he played with Fletcher Henderson's band. His most famous time was with Cab Calloway's band, from 1937 to 1941. Many people say Chu helped make Calloway's band a truly great jazz orchestra.

Recording Sessions

Chu Berry was a very popular musician. Other jazz artists often asked him to play on their recording sessions. These musicians included Bessie Smith, Mildred Bailey, Teddy Wilson, Billie Holiday, and Lionel Hampton. When a musician plays for another artist's recording, they are called a sideman.

His Influence on Jazz

During the 1930s, while Coleman Hawkins was playing in Europe, Chu Berry became one of the top tenor saxophonists. Other great players like Ben Webster and Lester Young were also very popular.

Chu Berry was known for his advanced understanding of music. His smooth and fast solos influenced many young jazz stars. These included Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Charlie Parker even named his first son Leon, after Chu Berry.

Chu Berry also took part in jam sessions at Minton's Playhouse in New York City. These informal music gatherings helped create a new style of jazz called bebop.

Famous Songs

Chu Berry helped write a song called "Christopher Columbus." It had lyrics by Andy Razaf. This song became a big hit for the Fletcher Henderson orchestra in 1936. It is a famous "riff tune" from the swing era. A riff is a short, repeated musical phrase.

Chu Berry also led four of his own recording sessions. These happened in 1937, 1938, and 1941.

Sadly, Chu Berry died on October 27, 1941. He was in a car accident in Conneaut, Ohio.

The "Chu Berry" Saxophone

A Conn 'New Wonder' Series II tenor saxophone from 1934. Chu Berry played a similar saxophone.

You might hear the name "Chu Berry" used for a type of saxophone. These saxophones were made by the C.G. Conn company in the 1920s. However, the company never actually called them "Chu Berry" saxophones. Their real name was the Conn New Wonder Series II.

It's interesting to know that Chu Berry himself didn't play a New Wonder Series II saxophone. He played a model called the Conn Transitional. Some people use the name "Chu Berry" for any Conn saxophone made between 1910 and the mid-1930s. This includes different types like soprano, alto, and baritone saxophones, even though Chu Berry only played the tenor saxophone.

Discography

As leader

• "Now You're Talking My Language"/"Too Marvelous for Words" (Variety, 1937)
• "Indiana"/"Limehouse Blues" (Variety, 1937)
• "Sittin' in"/"Forty-six West Fifty-two" (Commodore, 1938)
• "Stardust"/"Body and Soul" (Commodore, 1938)
• "Blowing Up a Breeze"/ "Monday at Minton's" (Commodore, 1941)
• "On the Sunny Sides of the Street" / "Gee, Ain't I Good To You" (Commodore, 1941)
• Chu Berry (Commodore, 1959)
• Sittin' In (Mainstream, 1965)

See also

In Spanish: Chu Berry para niños