Sonny Greer
Sonny Greer (13 December 1895 – 23 March 1982) was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with Duke Ellington.
Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and played with Elmer Snowden's band and the Howard Theatre's orchestra in Washington, D.C. before joining Duke Ellington, who he met in 1919. He was Ellington's first drummer, playing with his quintet, the Washingtonians, and moving with Ellington into the Cotton Club. As a result of his job as a designer with the Leedy Drum Company of Indiana, Greer was able to build up a huge drum kit worth over $3,000, as well as chimes, a gong, timpani, and vibes.
Greer was a heavy drinker, as well as a pool-hall hustler (when he needed to retrieve his drums from the pawnbroker), and in 1950 Ellington responded to his drinking and occasional unreliability by taking a second drummer, Butch Ballard, with them on a tour of Scandinavia. This enraged Greer, and the consequent argument led to their permanent estrangement.
Greer continued to play, mainly as a free-lance drummer, working with musicians such as Johnny Hodges, Red Allen, J. C. Higginbotham, Tyree Glenn, and Brooks Kerr, as well as appearing in films, and briefly leading his own band. He was part of a tribute to Ellington in 1974, which achieved great success throughout the United States.
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Notes and external links
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Studio
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The Blanton–Webster Band · Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band · Braggin' in Brass: The Immortal 1938 Year · Liberian Suite · Great Times! · Masterpieces by Ellington · Ellington Uptown · The Duke Plays Ellington · Ellington ‘55 · Dance to the Duke! · Ellington Showcase · Historically Speaking · Duke Ellington Presents... · The Complete Porgy and Bess · A Drum Is a Woman · Studio Sessions, Chicago 1956 · Such Sweet Thunder · Ellington Indigos · Black, Brown and Beige · Duke Ellington at the Bal Masque · The Cosmic Scene · Happy Reunion · Jazz Party · Back to Back · Side by Side · Anatomy of a Murder · Festival Session · Blues in Orbit · The Nutcracker Suite · Piano in the Background · Swinging Suites by Edward E. and Edward G. · Unknown Session · Piano in the Foreground · The Great Summit: The Master Takes · Paris Blues · First Time! The Count Meets the Duke · Duke Ellington & John Coltrane · Featuring Paul Gonsalves · Studio Sessions 1957 & 1962 · Midnight in Paris · Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins · Studio Sessions, New York 1962 · Money Jungle · Afro-Bossa · The Symphonic Ellington · Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session · Studio Sessions New York 1963 · My People · Ellington '65 · Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins · Ellington '66 · Concert in the Virgin Islands · The Popular Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite · The Jaywalker · Studio Sessions, 1957, 1965, 1966, 1967, San Francisco, Chicago, New York · ...And His Mother Called Him Bill · Second Sacred Concert · Studio Sessions New York, 1968 · Latin American Suite · The Pianist · New Orleans Suite · Orchestral Works · The Suites, New York 1968 & 1970 · The Intimacy of the Blues · The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse · Studio Sessions, 1957, 1965, 1966, 1967, San Francisco, Chicago, New York · Studio Sessions New York & Chicago, 1965, 1966 & 1971 · The Intimate Ellington · The Ellington Suites · This One's for Blanton! · Up in Duke’s Workshop · Duke's Big 4 · Mood Ellington ·
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Persondata |
Name |
Greer, Sonny |
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Short description |
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Date of birth |
13 December 1895 |
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Date of death |
23 March 1982 |
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