Freddie Washington (pianist)

Freddie Washington was born in Schulenburg, Texas on January 20, 1887.^[1] He joined the United States Army and was stationed in California with the 805th Pioneer Infantry in 1918–1919. He served as the band corporal in that unit.^[1] In 1921 he joined Kid Ory's band in Oakland, California. He recorded with Ory's band, and it is for his role in these sessions that he is primarily known.^[2]

Washington led his own band in the 1920s and 1930s, in addition to playing with Ed Garland and Paul Howard. In 1941, he was a pallbearer at the funeral of Jelly Roll Morton in Los Angeles.^[2] He recorded on Capitol Records in 1944 with Zutty Singleton, and performed with Kid Ory's band on a live broadcast of the wartime variety show The Orson Welles Almanac (July 12, 1944).^[3][4] Washington continued playing into the 1960s.^[1]

Washington died in Los Angeles on February 25, 1962.^[1]

• "Freddie Washington", Grove Jazz (online)
• John Chilton, Who's Who of Jazz