Freddie Redd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Freddie Redd
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Freddie Redd in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 29, 1928 Harlem, New York City, United States |
| Died | March 17, 2021 (aged 92) New York City, United States |
| Genres | Jazz, hard bop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, actor |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards, organ, composer |
| Years active | 1948–2021 |
| Labels | Blue Note, Savoy, Prestige |
| Associated acts | Jackie McLean, Tina Brooks, Howard McGhee |
Freddie Redd (born May 29, 1928 – died March 17, 2021) was an American hard-bop jazz pianist and composer. He was best known for creating the music for a play called The Connection in 1959. He also acted and played music in the play and its movie version. Freddie Redd was a talented musician who played with many famous jazz artists throughout his life.
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About Freddie Redd
Freddie Redd was born and grew up in New York City. He lost his father when he was only one year old. His mother raised him, and they moved around different neighborhoods in New York.
Freddie taught himself to play the piano. He started playing at a young age. When he was 18, he became very serious about jazz music. This happened after a friend played him a song by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. At the time, Freddie was serving in the military in Korea (from 1946 to 1949).
After leaving the Army in 1949, Freddie began his music career. He worked with drummer Johnny Mills. Later, he played with other jazz greats in New York. These included Tiny Grimes, Cootie Williams, and Art Blakey. In 1956, he even toured Sweden.
His Work on "The Connection"
Freddie Redd's most famous project was in the late 1950s. He was asked to write music for a play called The Connection. This play was put on by The Living Theatre in New York. His music was also used in the movie version of the play, which came out in 1961.
In both the play and the movie, Freddie Redd was an actor and a musician. The play was quite popular. The group toured across the United States and Europe. They performed in New York City, London, and Paris. Freddie also recorded an album of his music from the play for Blue Note Records. This album featured saxophonist Jackie McLean, who was also in the play.
Even with this success, it was sometimes hard for Freddie to become widely famous in the United States. After a while, he moved to Europe. He spent time living in Denmark and France.
Later Years and Legacy
Freddie Redd came back to the United States in 1974. He settled on the West Coast, in the San Francisco area. He played music there regularly and recorded albums until 1990. In 2011, he moved to Baltimore.
Freddie Redd was known for his creative music and unique piano style. He worked with many important jazz musicians. Some of these included Jackie McLean, Tina Brooks, Charles Mingus, and Louis Hayes. He even played the organ on a song by James Taylor in 1968.
Freddie recorded several albums where he was the main artist. In 1989, three of his albums were re-released together. The notes for these albums quoted Jackie McLean. He said that Freddie "just appears from time to time, like some wonderful spirit." This showed how Freddie often traveled and moved around.
In 2013, Freddie Redd went on a tour in Europe. Two albums he made that year were released in 2021. Freddie Redd passed away in New York City on March 17, 2021, at the age of 92.
Selected Albums
Freddie Redd recorded many albums as the main artist. Here are a few of them:
- 1955: Introducing the Freddie Redd Trio
- 1957: San Francisco Suite
- 1960: The Music from "The Connection"
- 1961: Shades of Redd
- 1971: Under Paris Skies
- 2015: Music for You
He also played on albums with other musicians, known as a "sideman." Some of these artists included Gene Ammons, Art Farmer, and Howard McGhee.
See also
In Spanish: Freddie Redd para niños
