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American musician (1929–2021)
Norman Simmons (October 6, 1929
[1]
[2] – May 13, 2021)
[3] was an American musician, arranger, composer, educator, and most prominently a pianist who worked extensively with
Helen Humes ,
Carmen McRae ,
Sarah Vaughan ,
Anita O'Day , and
Joe Williams among others.
[4]
[5]
Biography
Simmons was born in
Chicago, Illinois on October 6, 1929.
[1] During the early 1950s, he was house pianist at the Beehive Lounge on East 55th Street, playing with visiting musicians such as
Wardell Gray ,
Lester Young and with
Charlie Parker on his final Chicago performance in February 1955.
[3]
In 1966, his arrangement for
Ramsey Lewis ' hit of "
Wade in the Water " became a large commercial success.
[1] He was a member of the Ellington Legacy Band from 2002.
[5]
Discography
As leader
Norman Simmons Trio (
Argo , 1956)
Ramira The Dancer (Spotlite, 1976)
Midnight Creeper (Milljac, 1979)
I'm...The Blues (Milljac, 1981)
13th Moon (Milljac, 1986)
The Heat And The Sweet (Milljac, 1997)
The Art Of Norman Simmons (
Savant , 2000) - with
Eric Alexander
Manha De Carnaval (Sound Hills [Japan], 2002)
Synthesis (Savant, 2002) - with Eric Alexander
In Private (Savant, 2004)
As sideman
With
Roy Eldridge
With
Johnny Griffin
With
Red Holloway
With
Etta Jones
With
Carmen McRae
Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics (
Philips , 1962)
Live at Sugar Hill San Francisco (Time, 1963)
Second to None (
Mainstream , 1964)
Woman Talk, Live at the Village Gate (Mainstream, 1965)
Live & Wailing (Mainstream, 1965, reissued with Woman Talk on
Columbia , 1973)
Carmen McRae (Mainstream, 1971)
With
Betty Carter
With
Harold Ousley
The People's Groove (
Muse , 1977)
Sweet Double Hipness (Muse, 1980)
With
Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day with John Poole Trio Featuring Norman Simmons - Live at Mingo's (Emily, 1979)
With
Scott Hamilton and
Warren Vaché
With
Clifford Jordan ,
Von Freeman ,
Cy Touff ,
Victor Sproles , and Wilbur Campbell
With
Dakota Staton
With
Joe Williams
Joe Williams & Friends June 1985 - I Just Want to Sing (
Delos , 1985)
Every Night: Live At Vine St. (
Verve , 1987)
In Good Company (Verve, 1989)
That Holiday Feelin' (Verve, 1990)
Ballad And Blues Master (Verve, 1992)
With
Al Grey and
Bjarne Nerem
Al Meets Bjarne (Gemini, 1987)
As arranger
With
Johnny Griffin
With
Teri Thornton
With
Mark Murphy
References
External links
International National Artists Other