Grachan Moncur II facts for kids

Grachan Moncur II (born September 2, 1915 – died November 3, 1996) was an American musician. He was a talented jazz bassist. He played with a famous band called the Savoy Sultans.

Early Life

Grachan Moncur II grew up in Miami, Florida. When he was a teenager, he learned to play many instruments. These included the trombone, tuba, and double bass.

Music Career

Later, Moncur moved to Newark, New Jersey. There, he started playing the bass on a local radio station. A famous record producer named John Hammond heard him.

Hammond invited Moncur to play in recording sessions in 1935 and 1936. During these sessions, Moncur played with well-known musicians. Some of them were Mildred Bailey, Bunny Berigan, and Teddy Wilson.

Grachan Moncur II was one of the first members of the Savoy Sultans. He played with this group until 1945. After that, in the late 1940s, he worked with other jazz artists. These included Ike Quebec and Ace Harris. Records also show he played the baritone and bass saxophones. He played these instruments on various recordings in the 1930s and 1940s.

In the 1950s, Moncur went back to Miami. He continued to play music actively until the late 1960s.

Family

Grachan Moncur II had a half-brother named Al Cooper. His son, Grachan Moncur III, also became a jazz musician. He was a talented trombonist.