Lonnie Hillyer (March 25, 1940, Monroe, Georgia - July 1, 1985, New York City) was an American jazz trumpeter, strongly influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and other bebop legends of that era.
Lonnie Hillyer moved with his family to Detroit at age three, and began studying music at 14 under Barry Harris.[1] In 1960, he moved to New York, where he played with Charles Mingus,[2] Yusef Lateef, and Clifford Jarvis. Lonnie Hillyer's association with Mingus lasted more than a decade, performing on records such as "My Favorite Quintet" and "Let My Children Hear Music".
In 1966, Lonnie Hillyer and Charles McPherson formed a quintet performed together during the years following. McPherson also grew up with Hillyer in Detroit. Around 1983 he and (former Monk tenor saxophonist) Charles Rouse formed a jazz quintet ("Bebop Quintessence"), with (drummer) Leroy Williams, (pianist) Hugh Lawson and (bassist) Ben Brown.
Hillyer performed live with many musicians including Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Willie Bobo, Barry Harris, Walter Davis, Jr., Abbey Lincoln, and many others.
He died of cancer in July 1985.
His son, Lonnie D. Hillyer, is a rock bassist (J. Walter Negro & The Loose Jointz, Maggie's Dream, Billy Joel, Gordon Gano, Bernie Worrell.
Yusef Lateef - Cry! - Tender 1959
With Charles Mingus
Reincarnation of a Lovebird - Candid 1960
My Favorite Quintet - Liberty 1969
Let My Children Hear Music - Columbia 1971
At UCLA 1965 - Sue Mingus Music 2006
Charles Mingus - The Complete 1960 Nat Hentoff Sessions [Box] - CD
Charles Mingus film documentaries: "Beneath The Underdog" and "Triumph Of The Underdog
Eric Dolphy - "Candid Dolphy" - Candid Records 1960
Barry Harris - "Newer Than New" - Riverside Records 1961
Pharaoh Saunders Oh Pharaoh Speak - The Latin Jazz Quintet-Oh! 1965
Charles McPherson - Live At The Five Spot - Prestige Records 1966