Sol Moore

Sol Moore graduated from the Martin-Smith School of Music in Harlem.^[3] In the late 1930s he was a member of the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra; playing both alto and baritone saxophone.^[1] In 1939 he was a member of Floyd Ray's band with whom he toured and recorded.^[1] He played with Dizzy Gillespie in the Les Hite big band in 1939-42 before recording with Gilliespie's ensemble in 1946-47.^[4]

Moore was drafted into the United States Army in 1942, and served in the military during World War II^[3] from 1942-1945.^[2] After the war he formed his own band^[3] whose members included Bujie Ward (drums), Ivan "Red" Milton (alto sax), John Brown (tenor sax), George Smith (trumpet), William "Muscles" Swanson (bass), and Billy Hutchins (piano and vocals).^[5] The group performed often in Harlem in the mid-20th century;^[6] most often at the Celebrity Club where the band was a fixture beginning in the latter half of the 1940s^[7] and extending into the early 1950s.^[8] Other places in New York they performed included the Audubon Ballroom^[9] and City College of New York.^[10]

In 1949 Moore recorded with Billie Holiday music which is included on The Complete Commodore & Decca Masters.^[11] In the 1950s he was active in New York as a jazz arranger and composer for other artists.^[12]

• Clarke, John Henrik, ed. (1970). Harlem: A Community in Transition. Citadel Press. ISBN 9780806501321.
• Kernfeld, Barry (2002). "Moore, Pee Wee". In Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. II. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 9781561592845.
• Nicholson, Stuart (1995). Billie Holiday. Northeastern University Press. ISBN 978-1555532482.