Vi Redd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vi Redd
|
|
|---|---|
Redd performing in Rochester, New York, 1977
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Elvira Redd |
| Born | September 20, 1928 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, bebop, hard bop, post bop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, vocalist, teacher |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone, vocals |
| Years active | 1950–2010 |
| Labels | Atlantic, Atco, United Artists |
| Associated acts | Count Basie orchestra |
Elvira "Vi" Redd (born September 20, 1928) is an American jazz musician. She plays the alto saxophone and is also a singer and teacher. Vi Redd has been performing since the early 1950s. She is well-known for her blues style of playing. Many people respect her as a talented and experienced artist. She has played with famous musicians like Count Basie, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Dizzy Gillespie.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Journey
Vi Redd was born in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Alton Redd, was a jazz drummer from New Orleans. He also helped start the Clef Club. Her mother, Mattie Redd, played the saxophone too. Vi's brother was a percussionist.
Discovering Her Instrument
Vi was greatly influenced by her father. He was a big part of the jazz music scene on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. Her great-aunt, Alma Julia Hightower, was another important mentor. When Vi was 10, Alma convinced her to switch from playing the piano to the saxophone.
Playing with Future Stars
In junior high school, Vi Redd played the alto saxophone in a band. Some of her bandmates became famous jazz musicians. These included Melba Liston and Dexter Gordon.
Career and Achievements
Vi Redd graduated from California State University, Los Angeles in 1954. She also earned a teaching certificate from the University of Southern California. She worked for the Board of Education for a few years. From 1957 to 1960, she was a teacher. After that, she returned to playing jazz music full-time.
Touring and Collaborations
In 1962, Vi Redd performed in Las Vegas. She toured with Earl Hines in 1964. In the mid-1960s, she led her own music group in San Francisco. Her husband, Richie Goldberg, was the drummer in her group. During this time, she also worked with the famous drummer Max Roach.
Vi Redd traveled all over the world to perform. She played in Japan, London, Sweden, Spain, and Paris. She even spent 10 weeks playing at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London.
Life in Los Angeles
In 1969, Vi Redd settled back in Los Angeles. She continued to play music locally. She also worked as an educator, sharing her knowledge with students. She recorded albums for record labels like United Artists and Atco Records.
Her 1963 album, Lady Soul, featured many well-known jazz musicians. These included Bill Perkins, Barney Kessel, and Dick Hyman.
Awards and Recognition
From the 1970s onwards, Vi Redd taught and gave lectures for many years. She also served on a music advisory panel for the National Endowment for the Arts. This is a government agency that supports the arts.
In 1989, the Los Angeles Jazz Society gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honored her long and successful career. In 2001, she received the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Award. This award came from the Kennedy Center, a famous arts center in Washington, D.C.
Discography
- Bird Call (United Artists, 1962)
- Lady Soul (Atco, 1963)
- Now's the Time with Marian McPartland, Mary Osborne (Halcyon, 1977)
Images for kids
-
Redd performing in Rochester, New York, 1977
See also
In Spanish: Vi Redd para niños
