Pinkett, (William) Ward

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Pinkett, (William) Ward

Pinkett, (William) Ward, early jazz trumpeter; b. Newport News, Va., April 29,1906; d. N.Y., March 15, 1937. He is best known for his recordings with Jelly Roll Morton. He attended Hampton Inst., Va., and played in the school band; he then went to New Haven Conservatory of Music in Meridian, Miss., for further studies. He arrived in N.Y. with a travelling show and worked there with Charlie Johnson, Willie Gant (summer 1926). From 1928–30, he worked with Jelly Roll Morton, appearing on several seminal recordings; he also freelanced on record with various other leaders, including King Oliver, Bubber Miley, Clarence Williams, and James P. Johnson in this period. Around 1930, he became resident musician at James Hogan’s Joyland, working with Joe Steele, Morton, Chick Webb, Bingie Madison (1931), Rex Stewart (1933), and Teddy Hill (1934). During 1935, he worked with Albert Nicholas and Bernard Addison, and also played briefly with Louis Metcalf. He died in N.Y. of pneumonia and was buried in his home town.

—John Chilton, /Lewis Porter