Wynton Kelly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wynton Kelly
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Kelly in about 1957
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wynton Charles Kelly |
| Born | December 2, 1931 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Died | April 12, 1971 (aged 39) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1940s–1971 |
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| Associated acts | |
Wynton Charles Kelly (born December 2, 1931 – died April 12, 1971) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was famous for his lively, blues-inspired playing style. Many people thought he was one of the best musicians at playing along with other artists in jazz.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Wynton Kelly was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 2, 1931. His parents had moved from Jamaica. He started playing the piano when he was just four years old. He did not have a lot of formal music lessons.
He went to the High School of Music & Art in New York. He also attended Metropolitan Vocational High School. He once said that they did not teach piano there. So, he learned about the bass guitar and studied music theory instead.
Kelly began playing music professionally when he was 12. By age 16, he played piano on a song that became a number one hit. This was on the R&B music charts. Around this time, he also played the organ in churches. He played with other musicians in his neighborhood. Some of them later became famous jazz artists.
His Amazing Music Career
Early Recordings and Famous Bands (1946–1958)
When Wynton Kelly was 15, he toured the Caribbean. He played with Ray Abrams' R&B band. He made his first recording at 16. This was on saxophonist Hal Singer's song "Cornbread" in 1948. This song became a top hit on the Billboard R&B chart.
In the next year, Kelly recorded with singer Babs Gonzales. He also played with other R&B bands. These included bands led by Hot Lips Page and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson.
Kelly became more well-known after joining singer Dinah Washington's band in 1951. After that, he played with bands led by Lester Young and Dizzy Gillespie. He recorded with Gillespie in 1952. In September 1952, Kelly was drafted into the army.
Serving in the Army
Kelly served in the army at Fort McClellan in Alabama. He then joined a traveling show for the Third Army. He even convinced another future jazz pianist, Duke Pearson, to join the show. By April 1954, Kelly was a "Private First Class." He was the music director for the show. He finished his army service with a big music performance. It was for 10,000 people in Atlanta.
After two years, Kelly left the military. He continued to work with Dinah Washington and Dizzy Gillespie. He also played with Charles Mingus' group on a tour.
In 1956, Kelly recorded with singer Billie Holiday. This included the original version of her song "Lady Sings the Blues." He also played on the first albums for saxophonists Johnny Griffin and Sonny Rollins. After leaving Gillespie, Kelly started his own music trio.
Kelly was very popular as a sideman. This means he was often asked to play on other artists' recordings. He appeared on albums by many major jazz leaders. In 1958, Kelly recorded his second album as a leader. It was called Piano.
Joining Miles Davis and His Own Trio (1959–1971)
In January 1959, Kelly joined trumpeter Miles Davis. Davis was a very famous musician. Kelly played with Davis until March 1963. Davis had liked Kelly's playing when he was with Gillespie's band. Kelly toured 22 cities in Europe with Davis's group in 1960.
Kelly played on Davis's album Kind of Blue. This album is often called the best-selling jazz album ever. Miles Davis often took breaks between his band's performances. This allowed his musicians to work on other projects. So, Kelly continued to record with other leaders. He also played with other members of the Davis band.
When Kelly left Miles Davis, he formed his own trio. Two other musicians from Davis's band joined him. They were Paul Chambers (bass) and Jimmy Cobb (drums). They soon went on a tour across the country. They also recorded albums with Verve Records. In May 1964, a song called "Little Tracy" became a hit. It was from Kelly's album Comin' in the Back Door. It reached number 38 on Billboard's R&B chart.
A few months later, the trio toured Japan for concerts. The trio stayed together until 1969, when Paul Chambers passed away. Towards the end of his career, Kelly continued to play with musicians like Ray Nance. He also performed as a solo artist in New York. Kelly's last recording was in late 1970. He played with saxophonist Dexter Gordon.
His Passing
Wynton Kelly passed away in a hotel room in Toronto, Canada. He was 39 years old. A memorial concert was held for him in New York on June 28. Many famous musicians performed at this event.
Personal Life and Family
Wynton Kelly had a daughter named Tracy. Bassist Marcus Miller is a cousin of Kelly's. Also, rapper Foxy Brown and pianist Randy Weston are his cousins.
Interesting Facts About Wynton Kelly
- Friends said Kelly was a "very warm, generous human being."
- Kelly was excellent at sight reading music. He could also remember music very quickly. He could even play songs he had heard but never read.
- Many experts have called Kelly the best accompanist in jazz. An accompanist plays along with a main musician.
- Kelly's playing style has inspired many pianists since the 1960s.
- The famous trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (born in 1961) was named after Kelly.
- Pianists Dan Nimmer and Willie Pickens have recorded albums to honor Kelly.
- Other famous pianists like Monty Alexander and Chick Corea say Kelly influenced them.
Wynton Kelly's Own Words
- "Music has to be accessible, entertaining and easy to dance to."
See also
In Spanish: Wynton Kelly para niños
