Cleveland Eaton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cleveland Eaton
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Cleveland Josephus Eaton II |
| Born | August 31, 1939 Fairfield, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | July 5, 2020 (aged 80) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, swing, funk, R&B, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, bandleader, record producer |
| Instruments | Double bass |
| Years active | 1960–2020 |
| Associated acts | Ramsey Lewis, Count Basie Orchestra |
Cleveland Josephus Eaton II (born August 31, 1939 – died July 5, 2020) was a talented American musician. He was best known as a jazz bass player. Cleveland Eaton also wrote music, arranged songs, and even ran his own record company.
He became famous for playing with two very important music groups: the Ramsey Lewis Trio and the Count Basie Orchestra. His 1975 album, Plenty Good Eaton, is still loved today as a classic in funk music. Cleveland Eaton was honored for his amazing work by being added to both the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
Contents
Growing Up and Learning Music
Cleveland Eaton started learning music when he was just five years old. By the time he was 15, he was already good at playing the piano, trumpet, and saxophone. He began playing the bass when a teacher let him take one home. He spent almost all his time learning this new instrument. This hard work helped him become one of the best and most flexible jazz bass players around.
Music was important in Eaton's family. His older sister studied at famous music schools like Fisk University and the Juilliard School. Eaton learned from John T. "Fess" Whatley, a very important jazz teacher from the 1920s and 1930s. Whatley also taught other jazz legends like Sun Ra. Eaton played in a jazz group while studying music at Tennessee State University. He earned his bachelor's degree there.
His Amazing Music Career
After college, Eaton moved to Chicago in 1960. He played his first big shows with the Ike Cole Trio. He also recorded music with the Donald Byrd & Pepper Adams Quintet, which included Herbie Hancock. Eaton once shared how Herbie Hancock helped him get a job with the group. He even played on the first version of the famous song "Watermelon Man."
After playing in Chicago's jazz clubs, Eaton joined the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1964. He stayed with them for ten years. During this time, Eaton played on 30 albums with the trio. They won three Grammys and earned five Gold Records. These gold records were for albums like The In Crowd and Sun Goddess.
In 1973, Eaton released his first album as a band leader, called Half and Half. Two years later, he recorded Plenty Good Eaton. This jazz-funk album is still sampled by artists today. He also released Instant Hip, which was a new kind of funk and disco music. In 1974, he started his own group, Cleve Eaton and Co. In 1978, his song "Bama Boogie Woogie" became popular in the UK.
In 1979, the famous jazz musician Count Basie called Eaton. Basie needed a bass player for about two weeks because his regular player was sick. Eaton recalled that after two weeks, Basie offered him the job permanently. So, Eaton's two-week trip turned into 17 years of playing with the Count Basie Orchestra. Count Basie even called him "The Count’s Bassist." Eaton played on Basie's last albums and continued with the orchestra into the 1990s. He recorded ten albums with them.
After many years of traveling and playing music with many famous artists, Eaton returned to Birmingham, Alabama. In 1996, he joined the music department at the UAB. In 2004, he formed a new group called Cleve Eaton and the Alabama All Stars.
Cleveland Eaton played on over 100 albums and wrote about three times as many songs. He recorded with many well-known musicians like Dexter Gordon, George Benson, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. He also performed with stars like Nancy Wilson, Sammy Davis, Jr., and The Temptations.
About His Life
Cleveland Eaton passed away on July 5, 2020, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was 80 years old. He had been in the hospital for four months before he died. He is remembered by his wife, Myra Eaton, and his children, Lothair Eaton, Andre Eaton, and Keena Eaton Kelley. He was also loved by his stepchildren, Tania Adams, Kwani Dickerson Carson, and Kole Anderson.
His Albums and Music
Here are some of the albums Cleveland Eaton played on or led:
As a Leader
- Half and Half (1973)
- Plenty Good Eaton (1975)
- Instant Hip (1976)
- Bama Boogie Woogie (single) (1978)
- Keep Love Alive (1979)
- Strolling with the Count (1980)
With Ramsey Lewis
- More Sounds of Christmas (1964)
- You Better Believe Me (1965)
- Wade in the Water (1966)
- The Movie Album (1966)
- Goin' Latin (1967)
- Dancing in the Street (1967)
- Up Pops Ramsey Lewis (1967)
- Maiden Voyage (1968)
- Another Voyage (1969)
- The Piano Player (1970)
- Them Changes (1970)
- Back to the Roots (1971)
- Upendo Ni Pamoja (1972)
- Funky Serenity (1973)
- Ramsey Lewis' Newly Recorded All-Time Non-Stop Golden Hits (1973)
- Sun Goddess (1974)
- Solar Wind (1974)
With the Soulful Strings
- Groovin' with the Soulful Strings (1967)
- The Magic of Christmas (1968)
With Gene Ammons & Dexter Gordon
- The Chase! (1970)
- Chicago Concert (1971)
With the Count Basie Orchestra
- Kansas City Shout (1980)
- Warm Breeze (1981)
- 88 Basie Street (1983)
- Me and You (1983)
- Fancy Pants (1983)
- The Legend, the Legacy (1989)
- George Benson/Count Basie Orchestra Big Boss Band (1990)
- Best of the Count Basie Big Band (1991)
- Live at El Morocco (1992)
With Bunky Green
- Playin' for Keeps (1966)
See also
In Spanish: Cleveland Eaton para niños
