Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edward F. Davis |
| Born | March 2, 1922 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 1986 (aged 64) Culver City, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Labels | Prestige, Riverside, RCA Victor |
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Edward F. Davis (born March 2, 1922 – died November 3, 1986) was an amazing American jazz saxophone player. He was known by his cool nickname, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis.
People aren't exactly sure how he got the name "Lockjaw." Some say it came from the title of a song he played. Others think it was because he bit down really hard on his saxophone mouthpiece when he played! Later, his nickname was often shortened to "Jaws."
Eddie's Musical Journey
Eddie Davis played with many famous musicians throughout his career. He performed with jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Count Basie. He also led his own bands, creating lots of recordings.
Eddie was a master of different jazz styles. He played swing, bop, hard bop, Latin jazz, and soul jazz. Some of his early recordings from the 1940s even sounded like rhythm and blues music.
In 1940, something really cool happened. A famous jazz club called Minton's Jazz Club in New York City had jam sessions. These were special times when musicians could come and play together. The manager, Teddy Hill, put Eddie Davis in charge of deciding who was good enough to join in! Playing at Minton's was a big deal for many musicians.
In 1946, Eddie had his own band called Eddie Davis and His Beboppers. They played a fast and exciting style of jazz called bebop.
Later, in the 1950s, he played with another great saxophonist, Sonny Stitt. From 1960 to 1962, Eddie and fellow tenor sax player Johnny Griffin led a popular group together. They were known as the "Tough Tenors" because of their powerful playing.
Eddie Davis was also a pioneer in music. Starting in 1955, he helped make the combination of a tenor saxophone and a Hammond organ popular. He had a group with Shirley Scott playing the Hammond B3 organ. This created a unique and soulful sound.
In the mid-1960s, Eddie and Johnny Griffin also played together in a large group called the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band. This band included many talented jazz musicians, especially from Europe.
Eddie Davis passed away in Culver City, California, when he was 64 years old. He had a type of cancer called Hodgkin's lymphoma. He left behind a wonderful legacy of jazz music.
Images for kids
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Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis playing his saxophone.
See also
In Spanish: Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis para niños
