Wallace Roney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wallace Roney
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Roney in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 25, 1960 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | March 31, 2020 (aged 59) Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Trumpet |
| Years active | 1975–2020 |
| Associated acts | Miles Davis, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie |
| Education | |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Dawn Felice Jones |
Wallace Roney (born May 25, 1960 – died March 31, 2020) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played a type of jazz called hard bop and post-bop. Wallace Roney won one Grammy Award and was nominated for two others.
He learned from famous jazz musicians like Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie. From 1985 until 1991, he also studied with the legendary Miles Davis. Wallace Roney said that Miles Davis helped him think creatively. He was the only trumpet player Miles Davis ever personally taught.
Contents
Early Life and Music Training
Wallace Roney was born in Philadelphia, a city in Pennsylvania. He went to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. There, he studied the trumpet with Langston Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was a musician in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
When Wallace was just four years old, people discovered he had perfect pitch. This means he could tell the exact musical note of any sound. He started learning music and the trumpet at the Settlement School of Music in Philadelphia.
He also studied with Sigmund Hering, a trumpeter from the Philadelphia Orchestra. Hering often showed off Wallace's talent at school concerts. Wallace also played with the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble during his studies. Later, he attended Howard University and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
A Career in Jazz Music
Wallace Roney started his recording career at age 15. He played with musicians like Nation and Haki R. Madhubuti. At this time, he met other great trumpeters such as Woody Shaw and Freddie Hubbard. When he was 16, he played with the Cedar Walton Quartet. This group included famous musicians like Billy Higgins and Philly Joe Jones.
Wallace became a well-known performer in the Washington, D.C. area. He won the DownBeat Award for Best Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 1979 and 1980. Later, in 1989 and 1990, DownBeat Magazine's critics voted him the Best Trumpeter to Watch.
In 1983, Wallace Roney met his hero, Miles Davis. This happened at a special concert in New York City that honored Miles Davis. Miles asked Wallace what kind of trumpet he had. When Wallace said he didn't have one, Miles Davis gave him one of his own.
In the mid-1980s, Wallace Roney had to play in Latin dance bands. This was because many jazz clubs in New York had closed. But in 1986, he got two important calls in the same month. He was asked to tour with famous drummers Tony Williams and Art Blakey. After this, Wallace Roney became one of the most requested trumpet players.
In 1986, he joined Art Blakey's band, the Jazz Messengers. He also played a big part in Tony Williams's band in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1991, Wallace Roney performed with Miles Davis at the Montreux Jazz Festival. After Miles Davis passed away that year, Wallace toured with other musicians who had played with Davis. These included Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. They recorded an album called A Tribute to Miles, which won a Grammy Award.
Wallace Roney learned a lot directly from Miles Davis. Some critics felt his style was very similar to Miles Davis's. Wallace Roney released his first album as a band leader, Verses, in 1987. He recorded many albums throughout his career. His later albums include Mystikal (2005), Jazz (2007), A Place in Time (2016), and Blue Dawn - Blue Nights (2019). His nephew, drummer Kojo Roney, played on Blue Dawn - Blue Nights.
Personal Life
Wallace Roney came from a musical family. His grandfather, Roosevelt Sherman, was a musician in Philadelphia. His father, Wallace Roney Sr., was a U.S. Marshal. Wallace's younger brother, Antoine Roney, is also a jazz musician who plays the saxophone.
In 1995, Wallace Roney married pianist Geri Allen. They had two daughters and one son together. Wallace and Geri often worked together on music albums. Their marriage ended before Geri Allen passed away in 2017. Wallace Roney used to live in Montclair, New Jersey.
Death
Wallace Roney passed away on March 31, 2020. He was 59 years old. He died at St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. The cause of his death was complications from COVID-19.
Movie Credits
Wallace Roney also contributed to movies:
- 2001 - The Visit - He helped arrange the music.
- 1996 - Love Jones - He helped arrange the music.
Images for kids
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Roney in 2015
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Wallace Roney at Monterey Jazz Festival 9/92
See also
In Spanish: Wallace Roney para niños
