Sax Kari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sax Kari
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Isaac Columbus Toombs Jr. |
| Also known as | Saxton Kari Candy Yams Ira Green Texas Red Dirty Red Morgan |
| Born | February 6, 1920 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | October 1, 2009 (aged 89) Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, disco, funk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, organ, saxophone |
| Years active | 1930s–1990s |
Sax Kari (born Isaac Columbus Toombs Jr.) was an amazing American musician. He was born on February 6, 1920, and passed away on October 1, 2009. Sax Kari played many instruments, like the guitar, piano, and saxophone. He was also a bandleader, wrote songs, and helped other musicians record their music. His career in R&B music lasted from the 1920s to the 1990s. He used several fun nicknames, including Candy Yams.
Contents
The Musical Journey of Sax Kari
Early Life and Vaudeville
Sax Kari was born in Chicago, Illinois. His father was Isaac Columbus Toombs and his mother was Irene. When he was just a child, he ran away from home.
At nine years old, he started performing in vaudeville. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts. He was a comic performer with a group called Butterbeans and Susie. They gave him the nickname "Candy Yams." This was because of his light skin and freckles.
Learning Music and Touring
Sax Kari learned to play the piano, guitar, and saxophone. By 1940, he lived in Gary, Indiana, with his mother. He played guitar in different bands. In 1942, he even took the place of famous guitarist Charlie Christian in an orchestra.
In the early 1940s, he started working with Denver D. Ferguson in Indianapolis. Ferguson was a club owner and promoter. Sax Kari helped him promote concerts. He also helped set up a network of venues. This network later became known as the "Chitlin' Circuit." It was a special group of places where African American artists could perform.
Leading Bands and Recording Hits
Around 1945, Sax Kari formed his own big band. It had eighteen musicians! He settled in Detroit and started making records. His first recordings were in 1947 with his orchestra.
In 1953, he released his most famous song, "Daughter (That's Your Red Wagon)." This song was a response to Ruth Brown's hit song. It became very popular and reached number 8 on the R&B music chart. The song was credited to "Swinging Sax Kari" and featured singer Gloria Irving.
Producing Music for Others
Sax Kari also worked as a record producer. This means he helped other musicians make their songs. In the mid-1950s, he produced early recordings for Della Reese. He also made fun, unique songs himself, like "Chocolate Fizz."
He wrote and produced music for many other artists. In 1959, he produced the song "You're So Fine" by The Falcons. This group included famous musicians like Mack Rice and Eddie Floyd. "You're So Fine" was a big hit, reaching number 2 on the R&B chart.
New Adventures and Later Years
In the early 1960s, Sax Kari moved to New Orleans. There, he opened a recording studio. He worked as an A&R man, which means he found new artists and helped them record. He produced records for artists like Chris Kenner.
Later, he moved to Mobile, Alabama, and opened a record store. He also started his own record label called Channel 1. He wrote songs for other artists, including George McCrae and Wilson Pickett.
In the 1980s, he wrote for a hip-hop record label in New York. He also toured with his own band called Four Sticks of Dynamite and a Fuse. The band found a place to perform regularly in Seffner, Florida. Sax Kari decided to live there.
He also started performing by himself in resorts near Tampa, Florida. He often used his old nickname, "Candy Yams." In 1997, he released a CD called Love Juice, under the name Candy Yams and the Bluesville Express.
Sax Kari retired in Brandon, Florida. He shared many stories about his life for a book called The Chitlin' Circuit and the Road to Rock 'n' Roll. Sax Kari passed away in Florida in 2009, at 89 years old. His New Orleans recordings were put together on a CD in 2002.
