Genres Jazz Genre Jazz | Years active 1945-present | |
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Born February 13, 1931 (age 86) ( 1931-02-13 ) Occupation(s) musician, jazz educator Instruments Trumpet (Besson tilt-bell) Labels Mark, Vee-Jay, Atlantic Associated acts Frank Strozier, Slide Hampton, Woody Herman, Al Belletto, Peggy Lee Books Jazz Anyone?: Play and, Jazz Anyone? - Book 1, Cristoforo: Strange Tales of a, Jazz Anyone?: Play and, Play and Learn Jazz Combo C Similar Frank Strozier, Walter Perkins, Slide Hampton, Woody Herman, Bob Cranshaw | ||
Willie Thomas (born February 13, 1931) is an American jazz trumpeter, author and educator.
Contents
Biography
Willie Thomas was raised in Orlando, Florida and started playing the trumpet around the age of 10.
In the 1950s, Willie was a member of the Third Army Band, where he met and played with pianist Wynton Kelly, which became his first real break into the New York jazz scene.
In his 45 years as a jazz trumpeter, Thomas has performed or recorded with many jazz greats including the MJT+3 with Frank Strozier and Bob Cranshaw, the Slide Hampton Octet with Freddie Hubbard and George Coleman, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Al Belletto Sextet, and singer Peggy Lee.
Thomas created the series of jazz educational books Jazz Anyone...?. He has also an active member of the International Association for Jazz Education and was inducted into the International Association of Jazz Educators' Jazz Education Hall of Fame in 1994.
Today, Thomas still plays the trumpet for an hour per day, and teaches lessons via Skype.
Personal life
Willie married American jazz singer Jerri Winters. Willie now lives on Orcas Island, Washington.
As leader
As sideman
With Woody Herman and Tito Puente
With Slide Hampton
With MJT+3
With Peggy Lee
With Bill Henderson
With Bill Barron
Books
The Jazz Anyone.....? series, published by Alfred Music: