Norman Simmons (born October 6, 1929) is an American arranger, composer, educator, and most prominently a pianist who has worked extensively with Helen Humes, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams among others.
Simmons was born in Chicago on October 6, 1929. In 1966 his arrangement for Ramsey Lewis' hit of "Wade in the Water" became a large commercial success. He was a member of the Ellington Legacy Band beginning in 2002.
Norman Simmons Trio (Argo, 1956)Ramira The Dancer (Spotlite, 1976)Midnight Creeper (Milljac, 1979)I'm...The Blues (Milljac, 1981)13th Moon (Milljac, 1986)The Heat And The Sweet (Milljac, 1997)The Art Of Norman Simmons (Savant, 2000) - with Eric AlexanderManha De Carnaval (Sound Hills [Japan], 2002)Synthesis (Savant, 2002) - with Eric AlexanderIn Private (Savant, 2004)With Johnny Griffin
Battle Stations (Prestige, 1960) - with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisJohnny Griffin’s Studio Jazz Party (Riverside, 1960)With Red Holloway
Red Soul (Prestige, 1965)With Carmen McRae
Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics (Philips, 1962)Live at Sugar Hill San Francisco (Time, 1963)Second to None (Mainstream, 1964)Woman Talk, Live at the Village Gate (Mainstream, 1965)Live & Wailing (Mainstream, 1965, reissued with Woman Talk on Columbia, 1973)Carmen McRae (Mainstream, 1971)With Betty Carter
Betty Carter (Bet-Car Productions, 1970)Round Midnight (Roulette, 1975)Finally (Roulette, 1988)With Roy Eldridge
What It's All About (Pablo, 1976)With Harold Ousley
The People's Groove (Muse, 1977)Sweet Double Hipness (Muse, 1980)With Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day with John Poole Trio Featuring Norman Simmons - Live at Mingo's (Emily, 1979)With Scott Hamilton and Warren Vaché
Skyscrapers (Concord Jazz, 1980)With Clifford Jordan, Von Freeman, Cy Touff, Victor Sproles, and Wilbur Campbell
Hyde Park After Dark (Bee Hive, 1983)With Joe Williams
Joe Williams & Friends June 1985 - I Just Want to Sing (Delos, 1985)Every Night: Live At Vine St. (Verve, 1987)In Good Company (Verve, 1989)That Holiday Feelin' (Verve, 1990)Ballad And Blues Master (Verve, 1992)With Al Grey and Bjarne Nerem
Al Meets Bjarne (Gemini, 1987)With Johnny Griffin
The Little Giant (Riverside, 1959)White Gardenia (Riverside, 1961)With Teri Thornton
Devil May Care (Riverside, 1961)
