Home > Literature and the Arts > Performing Arts > Music: Popular and Jazz: Biographies

Research topic:Lester Willis Young

Find more facts and information on our topic page about Lester Willis Young

Lester Willis Young

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Lester Willis Young 1909-59, American jazz musician, b. Woodville, Miss. He played the tenor saxophone with various bands (1929-40), including those of Fletcher Henderson and Count Basie , with whom he first recorded in 1936. Young and Coleman Hawkins are considered the major influences on tenor-saxophone playing, and Young's style was important in the development of progressive, or cool, jazz, which arose in the late 1940s. He won several jazz polls and made a number of records, including a series with Billie Holiday , who gave him his nickname, "President," later shortened to "Pres" or "Prez."

Bibliography: See biography by D. Gelly (2007).


Find more facts and information related to the .
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press

Related newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles from HighBeam Research

(Including press releases, facts, information, and biographies)

Tom Brechtlein Reflects... On Steve Gadd
; We all have major influences in our drumming careers. If...been lucky enough to see our major influences in person. These special first-ha...that Steve Gadd is one of their major influences," Brechtlein insists. "For me... Read more
Master of our ancient myths.(Features)
; David calcutt is one of the most respected playwrights working in the West Midlands. The major influences on all areas of his work are myth and folk-tale. From an early age, he found himself excited by the power contained within these... Read more
Doc Watson, Trouble in Mind: the Doc Watson Country Blues Collection 1964-1998.(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)
; ...Folks rarely think of the blues in relationship to Watson's music but they colorfully inform every song he performs. Major influences like the progressive Delmore Brothers and finger picking genius Mississippi John Hurt clearly filter throughout the folk... Read more
ASK THE GLOBE
; ...people wear underwear? S.H., Boston A. Underwear is a fairly recent addition to everyday apparel and can be traced to three major influences. One was the dawning of the Victorian Age in the 19th century, when modesty was strongly stressed. The second was the refinement... Read more
Odd Jobs
; ...considerable education and training, a University of Georgia study says. Demographic changes and technological advances are the major influences on the job market, and the study found the best opportunities are in the service sector. Jeffrey M. Humphreys, director... Read more
Merullo, Roland. Revere Beach elegy; a memoir of home and beyond.(Brief Article)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
; Beacon Press. 214p. c2002.0-8070-7245-1. $16.00. A This memoir consists of ten essays in which Merullo discusses major influences on his life and reflects on how they have made him the 47-year-old man he is as he writes. He describes growing... Read more
Double Italian job worked for me says Walt
; WALTER SMITH is delighted to see that two of his former players will be major influences on an Italian side aiming to overrun Scotland tonight. The Scotland boss will see his underdogs come up against Inter Milan's Marco... Read more
Lacona; Melody Makers
; ...to make of a guitar band whose members have played variously in Wilco, Azure Ray and Head of Femur, and which claims as major influences Love, The Cars and Television. But a cursory listen to Chicago three-piece Lacona's debut EP, Come On, which was recorded... Read more
RADIO CHOICE: Chicken Inspector No. 23: The Story of SJ Perelman Tuesday 11am RADIO 4
; In this half-hour special Woody Allen talks about one of his major influences, the writer SJ Perelman (1904-1979), who virtually defined a style of Jewish humour associated with The New Yorker magazine. Yet... Read more
Thomas Zehetmair and the Hallé Orchestra
; As the end of their anniversary season draws nearer, Mark Elder and the Halle Orchestra drew on some of the major influences that contributed to their success. A century and a half after Charles Halle came up with the idea of his Manchester... Read more

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses

Lester Willis Young
Lester Willis Young The American musician Lester Willis ("Prez") Young (1909-1959) was one of jazz's premier...The eldest of three children, Lester Willis Young was born on August 27, 1909, in... Read more
Young, Lester Willis
Young, Lester Willis (1909–59) US jazz saxophonist. A major influence on be-bop music, with his characteristically cool and melodious improvisations...He also played with Benny Goodman and Dizzy Gillespie . Charlie Mingus wrote “Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat” in memory of Young. Read more
Lester (Willis) Young
...unconventional rhythmic independence influenced both bebop and cool-jazz musicians; his gentle tone and ethereal lyricism inspired an entire school of jazz saxophone playing. Lester (Willis) Young Lester (Willis) Young Lester (Willis) Young Read more

Related research topics

Online videos

Cherokee - Jordan Officer 2006

For Students and teachers!

HighBeam Encyclopedia provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

HighBeam Encyclopedia provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: