Jack Teagarden

Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905 in Vernon, Texas - January 15, 1964) was an influential jazz trombonist. His brother Charlie and his sister Norma also became noted professional musicians. Teagarden's father was an amateur brass band trumpeter and started young Jack on baritone horn; by age 10 he had switched to trombone. He first heard jazz music played by the Louisiana Five and decided to play in the new style.

Related Topics:
August 20 - 1905 - Vernon, Texas - January 15 - 1964 - Jazz - Trombonist - Charlie - Norma - Baritone horn - Trombone - Louisiana Five

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Teagarden's trombone style was largely self-taught, and he developed many unusual alternative positions and novel special effects on the instrument. He is usually considered the most innovative jazz trombone stylist of the pre-Bebop era, and did much to expand the role of the instrument beyond the old tailgate style role of the early New Orleans brass bands.

Related Topics:
Bebop - New Orleans

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By 1920 Jack Teagarden was playing professionally in San Antonio, Texas, including with the band of pianist Peck Kelley. In the mid 1920s he started traveling widely around the United States in a quick succession of different bands. In 1927, he came to New York City where he worked with several bands. By 1928 he played for the Ben Pollack band. In the late 1920s he recorded with such notable bandleaders and sidemen as Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, Jimmy McPartland, Mezz Mezzrow, Glenn Miller, and Eddie Condon.

Related Topics:
1920 - San Antonio, Texas - Peck Kelley - 1920s - United States - New York City - 1928 - Ben Pollack - Louis Armstrong - Benny Goodman - Bix Beiderbecke - Red Nichols - Jimmy McPartland - Mezz Mezzrow - Glenn Miller - Eddie Condon

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In the early 1930s Teagarden was based in Chicago, for some time playing with the band of Wingy Manone. He played at the Century of Progress exposition in Chicago.

Related Topics:
1930s - Chicago - Wingy Manone - Century of Progress

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Teagarden sought financial security during The Great Depression and signed an exclusive contract to play for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra from 1933 through 1938.

Related Topics:
The Great Depression - Paul Whiteman - 1933 - 1938

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Teagarden then started leading his own big band. He acted and played in the film The Birth of the Blues and appears in the documentary Jazz on a Summer's Day.

Related Topics:
Big band - The Birth of the Blues - Jazz on a Summer's Day

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In 1946 Jack Teagarden joined Louis Armstrong's All Stars. Armstrong and Teagarden's work together shows a wonderful rapport between the musicians. In late 1951 Teagarden left to again lead his own band, then co-led a band with Earl Hines, then again with a group under his own name with whom he toured Asia in 1958 and 1959.

Related Topics:
1946 - Louis Armstrong - 1951 - Earl Hines - Asia - 1958 - 1959

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Teagarden was also a prolific and popular singer. He sang in a lyric baritone-tenor voice. His singing is best remembered for duets with Louis Armstrong and Johnny Mercer.

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Jack Teagarden continued playing until the night before he died in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, California.

Related Topics:
French Quarter - New Orleans, Louisiana - Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills - Los Angeles, California

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