Ralph Earl Sutton (November 4, 1922[1] – December 30, 2001)[2] was an American jazz pianist born in Hamburg, Missouri. He was a stride pianist in the tradition of James P. Johnson and Fats Waller.
Ralph Sutton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ralph Earl Sutton November 4, 1922 Hamburg, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | December 30, 2001 (aged 79) |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Label | Arbors |
Biography
edit
Sutton was born in Hamburg, Missouri, United States,[1] the son of Earl and Edna Sutton. His younger sister Barbara Sutton Curtis was also a jazz pianist.[3][4]
Sutton had a stint as a session musician with Jack Teagarden's band,[1] before joining the US Army during World War II. After the war, he played at various venues in Missouri, eventually ending up at Eddie Condon's club in Greenwich Village.[1] In 1956, he relocated to San Francisco, California, where he recorded several albums with Bob Scobey's dixieland band. From the 1960s onward, he worked mostly on his own.[1] However, when the World's Greatest Jazz Band was established in 1968, he was the natural choice for piano.[1] He left that band in 1974 due to the extensive travel involved, and joined an old sidekick, Peanuts Hucko, in a quartet in Denver, near his home in Evergreen, Colorado.[5]: 1–4, 133, 202
Fellow jazz pianist Jess Stacy said this about Ralph Sutton: "He is a superb piano player and a great guy. There's nothing upstage about him. I really admire the way he plays. He's one of the few piano players who uses both hands, and it's sure nice to know that a player like Ralph is still around. I can't say enough good things about him. He's one of the greats, and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves."[5]: 180
Sutton died of a stroke in Evergreen, Colorado, at the age of 79.[2]
Discography
editAs leader
edit- Piano Solos in the Classic Jazz Tradition (Riverside, 1949, 1952)
- Piano Moods (Columbia, 1950)
- Plays Music Of "Fats" Waller (Columbia, 1951)
- I Got Rhythm (Decca, 1954)
- Backroom Piano (Down Home, 1955)
- Wondrous Piano, the Private Family Recordings, (Arbors, 1961)
- Ragtime U.S.A. (Roulette, 1963)
- Off the Cuff (Audiophile, 1976 [1982])
- Ralph Sutton – Live! (Flyright, 1978)
- Ralph Sutton Quartet (Storyville, 1978)
- Ralph Sutton at St. George Church, England (Arbors, 1992)
- Ralph Sutton at Maybeck (Concord, 1993)
- The Joint is Jumpin': the Music of Fats Waller (Sackville 1999 [2003], with Bob Barnard)
As co-leader
edit- As Good As It Gets (Victoria)
With Ruby Braff
- Remembered (Arbors)
- Ralph & Ruby Duet 1980 (Chaz Jazz Records inc.) CJ101
- Ralph & Ruby Quartet 1980 (Chaz Jazz Records inc.) CJ102
With Dick Cary
- Rendezvous at Sunnie's 1969 (Arbors)
With Kenny Davern
- Ralph Sutton and Kenny Davern Vol. I 1980 (Chaz Jazz Records inc.) CJ105
- Ralph Sutton and Kenny Davern Vol. II 1980 (Chaz Jazz Records inc.) CJ106
With Dick Hyman
- Dick Hyman/Ralph Sutton 1993 (Concord)
With Jay McShann
- Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players (Chaz Jazz, 1980) - originally released on 2 LPs as The Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players: Two Pianos Vol. I & Vol. II
- Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players (Chiaroscuro, 1989)
With Johnny Varro
- *A Pair of Kings (Arbors)
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2425. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- 1 2 Martin, Douglas (January 1, 2002). "Ralph Sutton, 79, the Pianist Known as the Master of Stride". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Famous Jazz Pianist Raises Funds to Refinish Piano". Ukiah Daily Journal. January 1, 1999. p. 5. Retrieved December 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Barbara Sutton Curtis" Ukiah Daily Journal (November 24, 2019).
- 1 2 Shacter, James D. (1975). Piano Man: The Story of Ralph Sutton. Chicago: Jaynar Press. ASIN B0006CEQ3Y.
External links
edit- Ralph Sutton at AllMusic
- Ralph Sutton discography at Discogs
- Ralph Sutton at IMDb
- Ralph Sutton Interview NAMM Oral History Library (1994)