Bill Beason
American jazz musician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Beason (March 6, 1908 – August 15, 1988) was an American swing jazz drummer. At the height of his career, he recorded with Django Reinhardt.[1][2]
William Beason | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 6, 1908 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | August 15, 1988 (aged 80) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | drummer |
Biography
Beason was born March 6, 1908, in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended Central High School there, along with classmates and future jazz musicians Helen Humes, Jonah Jones and Dicky Wells,[3] and then Wilberforce University in Ohio, playing drums for Horace Henderson's Collegians while there.[4]
In 1939, Beason took over the role of drummer in Ella Fitzgerald's orchestra from Chick Webb.[5]
Beason died, aged 80, in New York City.[6]
Discography (in selection)
With Dickie Wells and his Orchestra (Richard Fullbright, Bill Beason, Django Reinhardt, Bill Coleman)
- 1937: Dinah ! / Nobody's Blues But My Own (Swing)
- 1937: Japanese Sandman / I Got Rhythm (Swing)
- 1937: I've Found A New Baby / Hot Club Blues (Swing)
- 1937: Bugle Call Rag / Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (Swing)
- 1937: Sweet Sue / Hangin' Around Boudon (Swing)
- 1940: Hangin' Around Boudon / I've Found A New Baby (Victor)
With Ella Fitzgerald and her Orchestra
- 1974: Live From The Roseland Ballroom, New York 1940 (Sunbeam)
- 1987: Jazz Live & Rare (Delta)
