Norman Simmons (musician)

Norman Simmons (October 6, 1929[1][2] – May 13, 2021)[3] was an American musician, arranger, composer, educator, and most prominently a pianist who worked extensively with Helen Humes, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams among others.[4][5]

Biography

Simmons was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 6, 1929.[1] During the early 1950s, he was house pianist at the Beehive Lounge on East 55th Street, playing with visiting musicians such as Wardell Gray, Lester Young and with Charlie Parker on his final Chicago performance in February 1955.[3]

In 1966, his arrangement for Ramsey Lewis' hit of "Wade in the Water" became a large commercial success.[1] He was a member of the Ellington Legacy Band from 2002.[5]

Discography

As leader
  • Norman Simmons Trio (Argo, 1956)
  • Ramira The Dancer (Spotlite, 1976)
  • Midnight Creeper (Milljac, 1979)
  • I'm...The Blues (Milljac, 1981)
  • 13th Moon (Milljac, 1986)
  • The Heat And The Sweet (Milljac, 1997)
  • The Art Of Norman Simmons (Savant, 2000) - with Eric Alexander
  • Manha De Carnaval (Sound Hills [Japan], 2002)
  • Synthesis (Savant, 2002) - with Eric Alexander
  • In Private (Savant, 2004)

As sideman

With Roy Eldridge

With Johnny Griffin

With Red Holloway

With Etta Jones

With Carmen McRae

  • Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics (Philips, 1962)
  • Live at Sugar Hill San Francisco (Time, 1963)
  • Second to None (Mainstream, 1964)
  • Woman Talk, Live at the Village Gate (Mainstream, 1965)
  • Live & Wailing (Mainstream, 1965, reissued with Woman Talk on Columbia, 1973)
  • Carmen McRae (Mainstream, 1971)

With Betty Carter

With Harold Ousley

  • The People's Groove (Muse, 1977)
  • Sweet Double Hipness (Muse, 1980)

With Anita O'Day

  • Anita O'Day with John Poole Trio Featuring Norman Simmons - Live at Mingo's (Emily, 1979)

With Scott Hamilton and Warren Vaché

With Clifford Jordan, Von Freeman, Cy Touff, Victor Sproles, and Wilbur Campbell

With Dakota Staton

With Joe Williams

  • Joe Williams & Friends June 1985 - I Just Want to Sing (Delos, 1985)
  • Every Night: Live At Vine St. (Verve, 1987)
  • In Good Company (Verve, 1989)
  • That Holiday Feelin' (Verve, 1990)
  • Ballad And Blues Master (Verve, 1992)

With Al Grey and Bjarne Nerem

  • Al Meets Bjarne (Gemini, 1987)

As arranger

With Johnny Griffin

With Teri Thornton

References
  1. Wynn, Ron "Norman Simmons biography." allmusic. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  2. "Norman Simmons biography." Jazz Biographies. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  3. Chinen, Nate (May 13, 2021). "Norman Simmons, Pianist Who Made an Elegant Art Out of Accompaniment, Dies at 91". WBGO. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  4. Porter, Bob (1981). Helen (LP). Helen Humes. Muse Records. MR 5233.
  5. "Piano in the Parlour - Norman Simmons Trio April 11th." Hackettstown Business Improvement District. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
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