Name Teddy Edwards Occupation(s) Tenor saxophonist Role Saxophonist | Instruments Saxophone Movies All of Me Years active 1947–1992 Children Teddy Edwards, Jr | |
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Birth name Theodore Marcus Edwards Born April 26, 1924Jackson, Mississippi, United States ( 1924-04-26 ) Died April 20, 2003, Los Angeles, California, United States |
The legend of teddy edwards 2001
Theodore Marcus Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist on the west coast of the U.S.
Contents
- The legend of teddy edwards 2001
- Teddy Edwards Sextet live 1962
- Biography
- As leaderco leader
- As sideman
- References

Teddy Edwards Sextet live 1962
Biography

Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He learned to play at a very early age, first on alto saxophone and then clarinet.

His uncle sent for him to come to Detroit to live because he felt opportunities were better. Due to illness in the family, he went back to Jackson and ventured to Alexandria, Louisiana. He was persuaded by Ernie Fields to join his band after going to Tampa, Florida. Teddy had planned to go to New York City, but Ernie Fields convinced him he could get there by way of Washington, DC, if he worked with his band. Teddy ended up at the "Club Alabam" on Central Avenue in Los Angeles, which later became his city of residence.

Teddy Edwards played with many jazz notables, including his personal friend Charlie Parker, Roy Milton, Wynonie Harris, Vince Guaraldi, Joe Castro and Ernie Andrews. A classic 1947 recording with Dexter Gordon, The Duel, helped set him up as a legend, a status he liked to maintain by challenging other worthy sax players to similar duels whenever possible, including a recording with Houston Person. One such "memorable" duel took place in the 1980s at London's 100 Club with British tenor Dick Morrissey.
In 1964, Edwards played with Benny Goodman at Disneyland, and at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Edwards played live with has recorded on albums of Tom Waits. He toured with him on the Heart Attack and Vine tour and played to a packed Victoria Apollo in London with Waits and a bassist (the drummer had apparently been left behind after some dispute). The 1991 album Mississippi Lad features two tracks with Waits, and Waits covers the Edwards-written ballad "Little Man" on his Orphans collection.
As leader/co-leader
As sideman
With Frank Butler
With Joe Castro
With Sonny Criss
With Richard "Groove" Holmes
With Milt Jackson
With King Pleasure
With Hank Jones
With Shelly Manne
With Les McCann
With Howard McGhee
With Freddie Redd
With Max Roach and Clifford Brown
With Jimmy Smith
With Leroy Vinnegar
With Gerald Wilson