Chris Columbus (musician)
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Joseph Morris Christopher "Chris" Columbus (b. June 17, 1902, Greenville, North Carolina) was an American jazz drummer. He was sometimes credited as Joe Morris on record, though he is no relation to Joe Morris the free jazz guitarist or Joe Morris the trumpeter.
Columbus was active as a jazz musician from the 1920s into the 1970s, and was the father of Sonny Payne. He led his own band from the 1930s into the late 1940s, holding a residency at the Savoy Ballroom for a period. After the middle of the 1940s he drummed behind Louis Jordan, remaining with him until 1952. In the early 1960s, Columbus backed Wild Bill Davis's organ combo, and he recorded with Duke Ellington in 1967. He worked again as a leader in the 1970s, in addition to doing tours of Europe with Davis. While in France he played with Al Grey, Milt Buckner, and Floyd Smith.
