William Alexander "Sonny" Greer (December 13, c. 1895 – March 23, 1982)[1] was an American
jazz drummer and
vocalist, best known for his work with
Duke Ellington.
Biography
Greer was born in
Long Branch,
New Jersey, United States,[1] and studied drums with vaudeville drummer J. Rosemond Johnson. He played with
Elmer Snowden's band and the
Howard Theatre's orchestra in
Washington, D.C., before joining Duke Ellington, whom he met in 1919.[1] He was Ellington's first drummer, playing with his quintet, the Washingtonians, and moved with Ellington into the
Cotton Club.[1] As a result of his job as a designer with the
Leedy Drum Company of
Indiana, Greer was able to build up a huge
drum kit worth over a then-considerable $3,000, including
chimes, a
gong,
timpani, and
vibes.[2]
Greer was a heavy drinker, as well as a
pool-hall hustler[1] (when he needed to retrieve his drums from the
pawnbroker), and in 1950, Ellington responded to his drinking and occasional unreliability by taking a second drummer,
Butch Ballard, with them on a tour of
Scandinavia. This enraged Greer, and the consequent argument led to their permanent estrangement.[1]
Greer continued to play, mainly as a freelance drummer, working with musicians such as
Johnny Hodges,
Red Allen,
J. C. Higginbotham,
Tyree Glenn, and
Brooks Kerr, as well as appearing in films, and briefly leading his own band.[1] Greer featured in the 1958 black-and-white photograph by
Art Kane known as "
A Great Day in Harlem". He was part of a tribute to Ellington in 1974, which achieved great success throughout the United States.