Slam Stewart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Slam Stewart
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Slam Stewart, c. 1946
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Leroy Elliott Stewart |
| Born | September 21, 1914 Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | December 10, 1987 (aged 73) Binghamton, New York. U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Double bass |
Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart (born September 21, 1914 – died December 10, 1987) was an American jazz musician. He was famous for playing the double bass, a large string instrument.
Slam Stewart had a very special way of playing. He could use a bow on his bass (called arco) and at the same time hum or sing the same tune an octave higher. An octave means singing the note much higher or lower than it is played. Before he played the bass, he was a violinist. He switched to the bass when he was 20 years old.
Slam Stewart's Life Story
Slam Stewart was born in Englewood, New Jersey, in the United States. He started playing the string bass while he was a student at Dwight Morrow High School. Later, he went to the Boston Conservatory, which is a music school.
While at the conservatory, he heard another musician named Ray Perry. Ray Perry would sing along while he played his violin. This gave Slam Stewart the idea to do the same thing with his bass!
In 1937, Stewart joined with Slim Gaillard. They formed a fun jazz group called Slim and Slam. Their most popular song was "Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)", which came out in 1938.
Throughout the 1940s, Slam Stewart worked with many famous jazz artists. He played with musicians like Lester Young, Fats Waller, Coleman Hawkins, and Benny Goodman.
One very important recording session he played on was in 1945. He played with Dizzy Gillespie's group, which also included Charlie Parker. From these sessions, some classic bebop songs were created, such as "Groovin' High" and "Dizzy Atmosphere". Bebop is a fast and complex style of jazz music.
Later in his life, Slam Stewart taught music at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York. He also taught at Yale University. He passed away on December 10, 1987, in Binghamton, at the age of 73. He died from congestive heart failure.
Music Albums
Slam Stewart released many albums during his career. Here are some of his studio albums:
- Slam Stewart (1946)
- Slam Bam (1971)
- Slamboree (1972)
- Fish Scales (1975)
- Two Big Mice (1977)
- Dialogue (1978)
- Shut Yo' Mouth! (1981) with Major Holley
- The Cats Are Swingin' (1987)
He also played bass on albums for other musicians. This is called being a "sideman."
- Slipped Disc, 1945–46 (1990, with Benny Goodman Sextet)
- Art Tatum Live 1951–1953 Volume 6 (2004)
- Big Joe Turner, Texas Style (Black and Blue, 1971)
Movies
Slam Stewart also appeared in a few movies:
- Hellzapoppin' (1941)
- Almost Married (1942)
- Boy! What a Girl! (1947)
See also
In Spanish: Slam Stewart para niños
