King Fleming facts for kids

Walter "King" Fleming (born May 4, 1922 – died April 1, 2014) was a talented American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was born in the big city of Chicago, Illinois.

Life and Music Career

King Fleming went to McKinley High School, where he played the trombone in the school band. He was a classmate of another musician named Sonny Cohn. After high school, he continued his music studies at the Midwest College of Music.

Before starting his famous band, Fleming had already led a few smaller music groups. His band, King Fleming and His Swing Band, first performed in September 1942. In July 1943, he joined the U.S. Army. His band kept playing without him for a while, but eventually, too many members were called to serve, and the band had to stop.

After leaving the Army in 1945, Fleming began working as a session musician in Los Angeles. This means he played piano for other artists' recordings. He joined Johnnie Alston & His All Stars and recorded with singer Wynonie "Blues" Harris for Apollo Records. Later, Fleming played with Johnny Alston and His Orchestra for Modern Records. In this group, he played alongside Al "Cake" Wichard and Addison Farmer.

By mid-1946, Fleming joined a swing group called Oliver "King" Perry's Pied Pipers. He then returned to Chicago to lead his own group, King Fleming's Four. This group included Jay Peters on tenor sax, "Hog" Mason on bass, and Tommy Hill on drums. They even got a good review in the famous music magazine Down Beat in June 1947.

In 1950, he was part of the Dallas Bartley Quartet. That summer, he played piano for the vocal group, the Dozier Boys, during their recording session for Chess Records. Later that year, he joined Oliver Coleman's Palmaires.

In 1954, King Fleming finally recorded music under his own name. These recordings were for the Blue Lake label. He played with John Neely on tenor saxophone, Russell Williams on bass, and Aubrie Jones on drums. The singer Lorez Alexandria also joined them. In 1955, he recorded for the Chess label. The Chess brothers invited him back the next year to record the song "Stompin' at the Savoy" again with Lorez Alexandria.

In 1957, King Fleming's group supported Lorez Alexandria on her first two albums for the King label. He also worked with Muhal Richard Abrams, who wrote music arrangements for a big band led by King Fleming.

From 1960 to 1965, he recorded three albums with his piano trio for Argo and Cadet Records. These were jazz labels owned by Phil and Leonard Chess. He also played on two songs released by singer George Green.

For many years, King Fleming's trio played regularly in the Chicago area. They didn't record new music during this time. But in 1996, King Fleming released new music on the Southport label.

Later Years and Passing

King Fleming passed away at the age of 91. He died at a retirement home in Manteno, Illinois on April 1, 2014.

Music Albums

Here are some of the albums King Fleming released:

• 1961: Misty Night - King Fleming Trio
• 1962: Stand By
• 1965: Weary Traveler
• 1996: King! The King Fleming Songbook
• 2000: The King and I

See also

• In Spanish: King Fleming para niños