Glenn, (Evans) Tyree
Glenn, (Evans) Tyree
Glenn, (Evans) Tyree, jazz trombonist, vibraphonist, and singer; b. Corsicana, Tex., Nov. 23, 1912; d. Englewood, N.J., May 18, 1974. In his late teens he played with local Tex. bands, then with drummer Tommy Myles’s band in Washington, D.C., and Va. (1934-36). He next worked in Charlie Echols’s band in Los Angeles (1936), with Eddie Barefield on the West Coast, then Eddie Mallory’s band (accompanying Ethel Waters); he remained with this band until 1939, with a break to recover from a band-coach crash. His next engagements were with the Benny Carter Big Band (1939), Cab Calloway (1939-46), and in Europe with the Don Redman Orch. He returned to N. Y in 1947 and subbed for Lawrence Brown in Duke Ellington’s band, shortly thereafter joining Ellington on a regular basis until 1951 (except for a period in 1950). After taking solo engagements in Scandinavia (1951), he returned to the U.S. (1952) and was active in studio, radio, and television work, occasionally undertaking acting roles. He led a quintet from 1955, usually featuring Harold Baker. He joined the Louis Armstrong All Stars (1965), remaining until Armstrong’s illness (1968). He led a group at the Roundtable, N.Y (1969), worked once more with Armstrong (1970-71), and deputized with Ellington (1971). He died of cancer.
Discography
At the Embers (1957) At the Roundtable (1958); Trombone Artistry (1962).
—John Chilton, Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter