Duke Pearson
Columbus Calvin "Duke" Pearson, Jr (Atlanta, Georgia, August 17, 1932 – Atlanta, August 4, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Allmusic notes him as being a "big part in shaping the Blue Note label's hard bop direction in the 1960s as a record producer."
Early life
Duke Pearson was born Columbus Calvin Pearson, Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia, to Columbus Calvin and Emily Pearson. The moniker "Duke" was given to him by his uncle, who was a great admirer of Duke Ellington. Before he was six, his mother started giving him piano lessons, an instrument he studied until he was twelve. Then, he took an interest in brass instruments: mellophone, baritone horn and ultimately trumpet. He was so fond of the trumpet that through high school and college, he neglected the piano. He attended Clark College while also playing trumpet in groups in the Atlanta area. While in the U.S. Army, during his 1953–54 draft, he continued to play trumpet and met, among others, pianist Wynton Kelly. Pearson himself confessed in a 1959 interview that he was "so spoiled by Kelly's good piano", that he decided to switch to piano again. Also, it seems that dental issues forced him to give up brass instruments.
Podcasts:
Duke Pearson
ALBUMS
- The Phantom released: 2004
- Tender Feelin's released: 2003
- Mosaic Select 8: Duke Pearson released: 2003
- Profile released: 1999
- I Don't Care Who Knows It released: 1996
- Bags Groove released: 1991
- Wahoo released: 1988
- How Insensitive released: 1969
- Angel Eyes released: 1968
- Sweet Honey Bee released: 1967
- Honeybuns released: 1965
- Live at the Half Note, Volume 2 released: 1960
- The Right Touch released:
Born: 1932-08-17
Died: 1980-08-04
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