John Handy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Handy
|
|
|---|---|
Handy in 1977
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Richard Handy III |
| Born | February 3, 1933 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1953–present |
| Labels | Roulette, Columbia, Impulse!, Warner Bros., Milestone, American Music, Harbor, Koch, Boulevard |
John Richard Handy III, born on February 3, 1933, is a famous American jazz musician. He is best known for playing the alto saxophone. But he can also sing and play many other instruments! These include the tenor and baritone saxophones, saxello, clarinet, and oboe.
Contents
John Handy's Musical Journey
John Handy was born in Dallas, Texas. He became well-known in the 1950s. This was when he played with the famous jazz musician Charles Mingus.
Leading His Own Bands
In the 1960s, John Handy started his own music groups. One of his groups was a quintet, which means it had five musicians. They played with Michael White on violin, Jerry Hahn on guitar, Don Thompson on bass, and Terry Clarke on drums.
This group played at the 1965 Monterey Jazz Festival. Their performance was so good that it was recorded and released as an album! John Handy even received Grammy nominations for two of his songs: "Spanish Lady" and "If Only We Knew."
Education and Teaching
After finishing high school at McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, John Handy studied music. He went to San Francisco State College. His studies were paused for a while when he served during the Korean War. He graduated from college in 1958.
After graduating, he moved to New York City. John Handy has also taught music to many students. He taught music history and how to play instruments. He taught at places like San Francisco State University, Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Later Projects and Family
In the 1980s, John Handy worked on a project called Bebop & Beyond. This group recorded special albums that honored other jazz legends. They made tribute albums for Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk.
John Handy's son, John Richard Handy IV, is also a musician. He is a drummer. Sometimes, he has played music with his father.
In 2009, John Handy received a special award. It was called the Beacon Award from SF JAZZ. This award recognized his important contributions to jazz music.
John Handy's Music Albums
John Handy has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of his well-known recordings:
Albums as a Leader
- In the Vernacular (1959)
- No Coast Jazz (1960)
- Jazz (1962)
- Recorded Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival (1966)
- Hard Work (1976)
- Carnival (1977)
- Rainbow (1980) – with Ali Akbar Khan and Dr. L. Subramaniam
Albums as a Sideman
John Handy also played on albums with other musicians.
- With Brass Fever
- Brass Fever (1975)
- With Charles Mingus
- Mingus Ah Um (1959)
- Mingus Dynasty (1959)
- Blues & Roots (1960)
See also
In Spanish: John Handy para niños
