Buck Clayton

Buck Clayton was a leading trumpeter and arranger of the swing era.

Coming of age in the Southwestern Jazz Styles, Clayton moved to Los Angeles as a young man and made his name in the California Jazz circles.  In 1934, he assembled a band that moved to Shanghai, China, and brought American Jazz to the Orient. Escaping Shanghai just before the Japanese invasion, Clayton returned to the US and landed in Kansas City, where he joined the nascent Count Basie orchestra.  Clayton served as the lead trumpet soloist (and arranger) in the classic original Count Basie band, and also joined Billie Holiday for her great early recordings.

Drafted during World War II, Clayton did not serve overseas, but was stationed on army bases in New Jersey.  From that perch, he participated in the NY 52nd Street scene and was a major part of the small group swing bands.  In the 1950's and 1960's, he toured the US and France with Jazz At The Philharmonic and others, and made key recordings of "Mainstream Jazz".

Although physical lip troubles curtailed his trumpet playing, Buck continued his career as a composer and arranger, until his death on 1991.

This program was originally aired on May 22, 2011.  It celebrated Buck's centennial that year, as he was born November 12, 1911 in Parsons, Kansas.

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