George Tucker (musician)

Career

Tucker attended the New York Conservatory of Modern Music, studying bass in the late 1940s. Early in his career he played with Earl Bostic, John Coltrane, and Jackie McLean. He worked in the house bands of several lauded New York jazz venues, such as the Continental Lounge, The Playhouse, and Minton's; he played with Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Horace Parlan, Booker Ervin, Jerome Richardson, and Junior Mance during this time. In 1958, he recorded with Melba Liston on her jazz classic, Melba Liston and Her 'Bones. In 1960-61 he recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Parlan, Ervin, Dexter Gordon, and Shirley Scott, and in 1962-63 he toured with the trio of Dave Lambert, John Hendricks and Yolande Bavan. Near the end of his life Tucker recorded with Coleman Hawkins and Jaki Byard.

George Tucker died from a cerebral hemorrhage while performing with guitarist Kenny Burrell.

As sideman

With Jaki Byard

With Arnett Cobb

With Ted Curson

With Walt Dickerson

With Lou Donaldson

With Booker Ervin

With Curtis Fuller

With Dexter Gordon

With Bennie Green

With Slide Hampton

With John Handy

With Willis Jackson

With Etta Jones

With Clifford Jordan

With Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan

With Gildo Mahones

With Charles McPherson

With Junior Mance

With Oliver Nelson

With Horace Parlan

With Dave Pike

With Pony Poindexter

With Sonny Red

With Freddie Redd

With Shirley Scott

With Zoot Sims

With Johnny "Hammond" Smith

With Lucky Thompson

With Stanley Turrentine

With Jimmy Witherspoon

With Jimmy Woods